Words to minutes calculator
How long your script runs when spoken, and how many words a target length needs. Runs in your browser, instantly.
How long will my script run?
How many words do I need?
How it works
Spoken length is the word count divided by your speaking pace. At 150 words per minute, a 1,200-word script runs about eight minutes. Flip it round to plan: multiply the minutes you want by your pace, and that is the number of words to write.
Paste a script and the calculator counts the words for you. It counts anything with a letter or a number in it, so a stray dash between words is not counted, but “1,200” is.
Find your own pace in one minute
- Take a section of a script you have already written.
- Start a timer and read it aloud the way you would on camera, pauses included.
- Stop at one minute and count the words you got through.
- Set that number as your custom pace. Repeat on another day and average the two.
Energetic delivery, lots of short sentences and a presenter who talks with their hands all push the number up. Explaining something technical slows it down.
Words per video length
| Length | 120 wpm | 150 wpm | 170 wpm |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 min | 120 | 150 | 170 |
| 3 min | 360 | 450 | 510 |
| 5 min | 600 | 750 | 850 |
| 8 min | 960 | 1,200 | 1,360 |
| 10 min | 1,200 | 1,500 | 1,700 |
| 15 min | 1,800 | 2,250 | 2,550 |
| 20 min | 2,400 | 3,000 | 3,400 |
| 30 min | 3,600 | 4,500 | 5,100 |
Ready to record? Paste the script into the online teleprompter and it will scroll at the same words-per-minute pace.
FAQ
Questions
How many words is a 10-minute YouTube video?
About 1,500 words at a conversational 150 words per minute. A slower, deliberate delivery at 120 needs about 1,200, and a brisk 170 needs about 1,700.
What is a normal speaking pace for YouTube?
Pace varies a lot between people and styles, which is why the calculator lets you set your own. 150 words per minute is a common planning figure for conversational delivery. Measuring yourself beats any average.
Why is my finished video longer than the calculator says?
The calculator times the words only. Pauses, demonstrations, B-roll without narration and on-screen text all add time. Tutorials and reviews usually run well past their word count; a tight talking-head video stays close to it.
Does it count words in languages other than English?
Yes, for any language that separates words with spaces, including Hindi, Urdu, Spanish and Arabic. Speaking pace differs between languages, so time yourself in the language you record in.
Is my script sent anywhere?
No. The calculator runs entirely in your browser. Nothing you paste leaves the page.
Write to length without counting
Hookquill learns your speaking pace from your own videos and sets a word target for every section, so the script lands on the length you planned.
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