Free script tool
Script duration calculator
Estimated speaking time in minutes is word count divided by words per minute (WPM). For example, 750 words ÷ 150 WPM = 5 minutes before additional pauses. Start with a script or work backwards from a target duration.
Estimate your delivery
Calculate script timing or a target word budget
Speaking-rate results are estimates. Pauses, emphasis, breathing, demonstrations, and audience interaction all add time.
0 words
Target duration
Estimated speaking time
Calibrate with your own voice
Read the sample naturally. Start the timer before the first word and stop it after the last. The result becomes your speaking-rate estimate.
Clear delivery is not a race. Give each idea enough room to land, pause where the meaning changes, and keep your eyes close to the camera. A short rehearsal helps you find the pace that sounds like you instead of forcing your voice to match a generic setting.
The script and calculations stay in this browser. They are not stored or sent anywhere.
How to interpret the result
750 words at 150 WPM is about 5 minutes.
The calculation is words ÷ words per minute = minutes. At 120 WPM, 750 words takes about 6 minutes 15 seconds. At 180 WPM, it takes about 4 minutes 10 seconds.
Deliberate
120 WPM
Useful as a slower planning estimate when a script needs space for emphasis or instruction.
Conversational
150 WPM
A practical starting estimate—not a rule for how you should sound.
Brisk
180 WPM
Useful for energetic delivery, provided the words remain clear.
Microsoft's Speaker Coach guidance on pacing recommends evaluating delivery pace. The 120, 150 and 180 WPM settings here are planning examples, not research-validated prescriptions for your video. Time the delivery that fits your script.
Words to speaking time: quick reference
These are continuous-speaking estimates, not promised recording lengths. Use the timer above to check your own pace.
| Words | 120 WPM | 150 WPM | 180 WPM |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100 | 50 seconds | 40 seconds | 33 seconds |
| 250 | 2 min 5 sec | 1 min 40 sec | 1 min 23 sec |
| 500 | 4 min 10 sec | 3 min 20 sec | 2 min 47 sec |
| 750 | 6 min 15 sec | 5 minutes | 4 min 10 sec |
| 1000 | 8 min 20 sec | 6 min 40 sec | 5 min 33 sec |
How many words fit a five-minute video?
At 150 WPM, five minutes allows about 750 spoken words before pauses. If part of the video is a demonstration or silence, subtract that time first. Choose “Duration → word budget” above to calculate with your own available speaking time.
Word counting, rounding and personal pace
Word budget = available speaking seconds ÷ 60 × WPM, rounded to the nearest whole word. Estimated durations are displayed to the nearest second. For a 90-second slot at 150 WPM, the budget is 225 words before additional pauses.
The counter treats letter/number groups as words and keeps internal apostrophes and hyphens together: “don't” and “well-paced” each count as one. Punctuation alone does not count. Numerals and abbreviations may take several spoken words, so the text count is only a planning estimate.
Personal calibration uses sample words ÷ elapsed seconds × 60, rounded to a whole-number WPM. A 60-word sample read in 30 seconds gives 120 WPM; time a representative passage rather than treating one short sample as a permanent speaking rate.
Once the length fits, use the iPhone recording guide to set the text near the lens and reduce visible eye movement. See how PromptTake handles the script and camera together.