Script Timer

What is a script timer?

A script timer (also called a words to time calculator) estimates how long a written script will take to read aloud. Instead of guessing, you paste your text, pick a reading speed, and instantly see the spoken duration in minutes and seconds. It is built for creators who need to fit a video, podcast segment, presentation, speech or voiceover into a target length before they ever hit record. Below the tool you will also find a full words-to-time reference table, so you can check how long a 500, 1,000 or 2,000-word script runs at a glance.

Words to time reference table

This table shows how long common script lengths take to read aloud, from a short 100-word intro to a 5,000-word long-form script. Times are given at three speaking paces: slow (120 wpm), normal (150 wpm) and fast (180 wpm), and match exactly what the tool above calculates.

These are spoken, read-aloud times. Silent reading is much faster, usually around 240 words per minute, so the same text read silently takes roughly a third less time.

How long is a 500, 1,000 or 2,000-word script?

At a normal speaking pace of 150 words per minute, the most common script lengths come out at:

• a 500-word script: about 3 minutes 20 seconds;
• a 1,000-word script or speech: about 6 minutes 40 seconds;
• a 1,500-word script: about 10 minutes;
• a 2,000-word script: about 13 minutes 20 seconds.

Pace changes the result a lot. Slow a 1,000-word script down to a deliberate, formal 120 wpm and it runs to roughly 8 minutes 20 seconds; speed it up to a punchy 180 wpm for short-form video and it drops to about 5 minutes 33 seconds. Working from a rough transcript? Tidy it with the Transcript Cleaner first so your word count reflects the real script.

How many words for a 5, 10 or 20-minute video?

Planning the other way round: you have a time slot and need to know the word count? This table works backwards from a target duration to an approximate script length at each pace.

As a quick rule of thumb, one minute of spoken delivery is about 130–150 words.

How reading speed (WPM) works

WPM stands for words per minute: how many words you say in one minute of speech. The duration is calculated from your word count divided by your chosen speed. This tool offers four reference paces:

• Slow – 120 wpm: deliberate delivery, complex or technical content.
• Normal – 150 wpm: a clear, conversational pace (the default).
• Fast – 180 wpm: energetic, suited to short-form video.
• Very fast – 220 wpm: rapid delivery, rarely sustainable for long.

You can also fine-tune the speed anywhere between 80 and 300 wpm with the slider.

How to estimate speaking time

1. Paste or write your script in the box above.
2. Choose a reading speed with the slider, the quick paces, or a format preset.
3. Read the estimated speaking time, shown in minutes and seconds.
4. Copy the estimate or download it as a text file to keep with your project.

For example, a 1,000-word script at the normal pace of 150 wpm takes about 6 minutes and 40 seconds to read aloud.

Tips by format (YouTube, podcast, Reels, voiceover)

• YouTube video (150 wpm): a conversational on-camera pace. Add a little time for pauses, b-roll and on-screen demonstrations.
• Podcast (150 wpm): relaxed spoken delivery. Remember to budget extra time for intros, music, ad reads and unscripted conversation.
• TikTok / Reels (180 wpm): a fast, punchy pace that keeps short-form videos tight and within platform limits.
• Presentation (130 wpm): a slower, clearer pace so a live audience can follow along comfortably.
• Voiceover (150 wpm): a steady narration pace. Match it to the mood of your footage and the space you have for the audio.