Voiceover script length: how many words per minute?
Scripts run long more often than they run short. A word count gives you a good estimate before you generate any audio, and one short test tells you how a particular voice and pace will time out.
The formula
Duration in minutes equals word count divided by words per minute (WPM). A useful planning figure for English narration is 150 WPM. Most scripts fall between 120 WPM for a slow, careful read and 160 WPM for energetic copy.
Word counts at 150 WPM
| Length | Words |
|---|---|
| 15 seconds | about 38 |
| 30 seconds | about 75 |
| 60 seconds | about 150 |
| 90 seconds | about 225 |
| 2 minutes | about 300 |
| 5 minutes | about 750 |
| 10 minutes | about 1,500 |
Allow for pauses
Pauses between sections take time that a word count misses. For a planning estimate, add about 15% to the spoken time if your script has clear breaks, demos or music beats. A 5-minute estimate becomes about 5 minutes 45 seconds.
What changes the pace
- Numbers, dates and long names take longer to say than they look on the page.
- Languages differ, so measure non-English scripts instead of relying on an English WPM figure.
- A calm explainer often needs a slower pace than a short ad.
Measure your own pace
- Generate one representative paragraph in the voice you plan to use.
- Divide its word count by its length in minutes to get your real WPM.
- Use that figure to estimate the full script.
- Adjust the speed setting or trim the script, then add pauses where the listener needs them.
- Export WAV for editing or MP3 for sharing, plus SRT or VTT subtitles if the video needs them.
Frequently asked questions
How many words is a 60-second voiceover?
About 150 words at a typical pace. Faster copy can reach about 160 words, and a slow read may be closer to 120.
How many words is a 5-minute voiceover?
About 750 words at 150 words per minute, before allowing for pauses.
How long is a 1,000-word script?
About 6 minutes 40 seconds at 150 words per minute.
Related pages
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