Budget a 30-second voiceover: at 150 WPM with five seconds of pauses, at most 62 words fit.
Script Timer: Words to Minutes (WPM)
Plan a script to match your intended runtime.
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Script timing desk
Convert script words to an estimated speaking time
Work through the Script Timer controls in order, then review the result before choosing your next action.
01
Paste only the words you will say, then choose 130, 150, or 175 words per minute.
02
Compare the result with the worked example and your original input.
03
Export only after checking the stated limits and the destination requirements.
Fit spoken words and pauses into one minute
| Input | Arithmetic | Expected result |
|---|---|---|
| 150 words, 150 WPM, 10 seconds of pauses | 150 ÷ 150 × 60 + 10 | 70 seconds = 1m 10s |
| Target 1 minute with the same pauses | floor((60 − 10) × 150 ÷ 60) | 125 words fit; 25 words over budget |
| 149 words, 150 WPM, no pauses | 59.6 seconds rounded to 60 | 1m 0s, not 0m 60s |
The example button repeats one word 150 times for an arithmetic check. It is not natural spoken copy. Preset speeds are assumptions: rehearse your real script and leave time for pronunciation and emphasis.
PRACTICAL GUIDE
How to use Video Script Speech Timer with a clear next step.
Paste only the words you will say, then choose 130, 150, or 175 words per minute. Add planned pauses in seconds and set a positive target in minutes. The 150-word example sets a one-minute target with ten seconds of pauses so you can check the budget before pasting your own script.
Use this words-to-time calculator for a voiceover, radio spot, explainer or presentation. Counted words are whitespace-separated groups: 3.5, AI and well-paced each count as one even when spoken delivery takes longer. Remove stage directions that will not be spoken. The three pace presets are planning assumptions; this page neither records audio nor measures a speaker. Run a timed rehearsal after trimming the script. Use the timing example to separate spoken words from silence. A 150-word script at 150 words per minute takes approximately 60 seconds of speech; adding ten seconds of pauses makes the estimate 70 seconds. For a one-minute target with those same pauses, the word budget is 125. Replace stage directions such as “show the chart” with notes outside the pasted spoken text when they are not meant to be said. Numbers, acronyms and technical terms can take longer to speak than their whitespace count suggests. If a rehearsal exceeds the estimate, shorten the script or select a slower planning pace instead of rushing the last sentence. Check transitions and emphasis, not only the total duration. Keep a version of the script that matches the recorded take. This workspace cannot measure a speaker’s actual speed, edit audio or guarantee a finished video’s runtime.
HOW THE RESULT WORKS
Duration in seconds = word count ÷ selected WPM × 60 + pauses. The display rounds the total to the nearest second before dividing into minutes and seconds. Target words = floor(max(0, target minutes × 60 − pauses) × WPM ÷ 60). Pauses that fill the whole target leave a budget of zero words.
Compare a 150-word script at the three fixed speaking paces before recording.
Reserve ten seconds for transitions inside a one-minute presentation, leaving 125 words at 150 WPM.
COMMON QUESTIONS
Video Script Speech Timer FAQ
Why does my script exceed the target when its word count looks right?
Pause seconds consume the same target window. A 150-word script at 150 WPM lasts 60 seconds before pauses; ten extra seconds make it 70 seconds.
Is the timer a stopwatch or audio reader?
No. It calculates from text and selected assumptions; it does not play, record or analyse speech.
Can I enter a half-minute target?
Yes. Enter 0.5 in Target minutes. Use zero or more pause seconds and a target greater than zero; invalid values block the estimate.
Does Script Timer save or upload my script?
The calculation runs in the current browser session. The script is not sent to an OpenToolSuite processing service; copying puts the estimate on your device clipboard.
Updated · Built and reviewed by Feroz Sheikh