A script timer that turns words into minutes
This script timer turns the words in a script into speaking time. Paste your text, pick a pace, and the tool shows how long it takes to say, how long each section runs and when each one starts. It also works backwards: enter a target length and see how many words you should write.
It is built for video scripts, speeches, presentations, podcasts and voice-overs, where “about five minutes” needs to be more than a guess. Everything happens in your browser; your script is only saved on this device so it is still there when you return.
How to use the Script Timer (Words to Minutes)
- Paste or type your script. The box starts with a short sample you can replace.
- Pick a pace: slow 110, average 140, fast 170 words per minute, or enter your own.
- Add
[pause 2s]where you want a beat; a plain[pause]counts as one second. Markers are not counted as words. - Choose how to split sections: lines that start with
#, blank lines, or the whole script. - Read the total, the section table and, if you entered a target length, how many words you are over or under.
Script Timer (Words to Minutes) features
Pace presets
Slow, average and fast, plus a custom words-per-minute value from 20 to 400.
Section start times
Each section shows its length and the time it starts, handy for a timed run-through or chapters.
Pause markers
Planned silences are added to the time but never counted as words.
Target length
See how many words fit in 1 to 30 minutes at your pace, or in any length you type.
How the time is calculated
Speaking time = words ÷ words per minute, plus any pauses. A 700-word script at 140 wpm takes 5 minutes; at 110 wpm it takes about 6 minutes 22 seconds. A word is any run of characters between spaces that contains a letter or number, so dashes and stray symbols are ignored.
Typical rates are a guide, not a rule. Speech-coaching sources commonly put comfortable presentation pace at about 100 to 150 wpm with 130 a frequent target, conversation near 150 wpm, and audiobook narration around 150 to 160 wpm. Live talks can run faster; one informal analysis of TED talks found around 173 wpm. Time yourself reading aloud once and enter that as your custom pace.
| Pace | Words per minute | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Slow | 110 | Training, technical material, nervous first reads |
| Average | 130–150 | Presentations, explainers, conversation |
| Fast | 160–170+ | Energetic social video, trailers, excited delivery |
Planning a script by length
Work backwards when a slot is fixed. A 60-second short at 160 wpm holds about 160 words including the hook; a 10-minute talk at 130 wpm holds about 1,300. Leave room for pauses, slides, demonstrations and audience reactions, which the word count cannot see. Type your slot length in the target box and the tool tells you how many words you are over or under, so you can trim before you rehearse rather than after.
Tips for accurate timing
- Read the script aloud once with a stopwatch and compare. If you differ, set a custom pace.
- Numbers, names and technical terms slow most people down; add a pause marker after complex points.
- Subtitled or translated scripts change length: languages differ in words per minute, so time the final text.
- For a teleprompter run-through, use the online teleprompter; to count characters and sentences, use the word counter.
Script Timer (Words to Minutes) FAQ
How many words is a 5-minute speech?
At an average 140 wpm, about 700 words. At 110 wpm it is about 550 words and at 170 wpm about 850 words.
How do I convert words to minutes?
Divide the number of words by your words per minute. 1,000 words at 150 wpm is 6 minutes 40 seconds.
How fast is the average person’s speech?
Sources typically cite about 130 to 150 words per minute for presentations and conversation. It varies by person, topic and language.
Do pauses count as words?
No. Pause markers add seconds to the total but not to the word count.
Is my script uploaded?
No. It stays in your browser and is saved only on this device so you can come back to it.
Can it time a script in another language?
It counts words separated by spaces, so it suits most alphabetic languages. For languages written without spaces, enter your own pace and count words another way.