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Script duration calculator
Find out how long your voiceover could take, then shape the script to fit. Set a speaking pace, leave room for pauses and get a practical word budget.
Time your script
The calculation runs in your browser. Remove scene directions and other text you will not speak. Best for scripts with spaces between words.
150 is a starting assumption. Adjust to your actual voice.
Total silence, transitions or space for the ending.
Script words
0
Estimated duration
0s
Target word budget
150 words
From word count to a workable video.
1. Paste only the spoken words
Remove speaker labels, timestamps and scene directions. The counter treats contractions and hyphenated words as single words.
2. Set your delivery and pauses
Start with 150 words per minute, then adjust based on a sample of your narrator. Add silence separately so it has room in the edit.
3. Check the real recording
The result is an estimate. Generate or record the narration, listen for rushed lines, and use the final audio length to time the scenes.
The calculation
Duration in seconds = (words ÷ words per minute) × 60 + extra pauses
A 120-word script at 150 words per minute takes an estimated 48 seconds. Add six seconds of pauses and the total is 54 seconds. Numbers, abbreviations and punctuation may be spoken differently by your chosen voice.
| Video duration | Estimated word budget |
|---|---|
| 15 seconds | 37 words |
| 30 seconds | 75 words |
| 60 seconds | 150 words |
| 90 seconds | 225 words |
| 120 seconds | 300 words |
Common questions
How do you calculate script duration?
Divide the script’s word count by the speaking rate in words per minute, multiply by 60, and add any extra pause time in seconds. For example, 150 words at 150 words per minute takes an estimated 60 seconds before pauses.
How many words fit in a 30-second or 60-second video?
At an assumed 150 words per minute, 30 seconds holds about 75 words and 60 seconds holds about 150 words before pauses. Subtract time for silence, scene transitions or the ending before setting your final word budget.
Will the estimate match an AI voiceover exactly?
No. Voice, pronunciation, punctuation, language and delivery affect the final audio. Use this as a planning estimate, then check the duration of the actual voiceover before finishing your edit.
Is the calculator free, and do I need an account?
The calculator is free and requires no account. Word counting and duration calculations run in your browser.
Does it work for every language?
The word counter is designed for scripts with spaces between words. It recognizes letters and numbers, including accented letters. It does not perform reliable word segmentation for languages such as Chinese or Japanese, and speaking rates vary by language.
Your script has a shape. Give it a voice.
Explore voiceover creation in Clippie, then check your actual narration against the plan.
Explore video voiceovers