Speaking time calculator
Paste your script to see how long it takes to read aloud at the pace you speak. It counts words, or characters for Japanese and Chinese.
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Words and speaking time
Most people speak somewhere between 130 and 160 words a minute in conversation, and slower when they present. Reading aloud from a teleprompter should sound like talking, so plan at your speaking pace, not your silent reading speed.
| Words | At 130 a minute | At 150 a minute | At 165 a minute |
|---|---|---|---|
| 75 | 35 s | 30 s | 27 s |
| 150 | 1 min 9 s | 1 min | 55 s |
| 300 | 2 min 18 s | 2 min | 1 min 49 s |
| 450 | 3 min 28 s | 3 min | 2 min 44 s |
| 750 | 5 min 46 s | 5 min | 4 min 33 s |
| 1,500 | 11 min 32 s | 10 min | 9 min 5 s |
Tips for timing a script
- Write for the ear. Short sentences are faster to say and easier to follow.
- Mark your breaths. A beat between ideas adds a second or two, and makes the delivery sound natural.
- Read it out once. Time one real read-through; this calculator gets you close, your own pace gets you exact.
Eye contact calculator · How to look at the camera while reading a script
EyePrompt shows a live word count and run-time estimate while you write, and its Smart Follow scrolls the script at the pace you actually speak. How it works
Questions people ask
How many words is a one-minute video?
About 130 to 160 words at a conversational pace. 150 words is a good number to plan with.
How many words is a 30-second video?
About 65 to 80 words at a conversational pace.
How fast should a teleprompter scroll?
At the pace you speak, not the pace you read silently. Most people speak 130 to 160 words a minute; a teleprompter that follows your voice removes the guesswork.