Most people speak about 130 to 160 words a minute on camera, so a 60-second video script is roughly 130 to 160 words and a 30-second script is about 65 to 80. To estimate a script’s length, divide its word count by your pace in words a minute and multiply by 60. Paste your script below to do the math, then read it aloud once to set your own pace.
Paste a script or enter a word count to see how long it runs.
For 60 seconds, aim for about 130–160 words.
The math is simple: seconds ≈ words ÷ words a minute × 60. Everything runs in your browser; nothing you paste is sent anywhere.
Key takeaways
- Seconds ≈ words ÷ words a minute × 60.
- At a natural pace, plan on 130 to 160 words for a 60-second video.
- Pauses, demos and on-screen text add time that word counts miss.
- Time one read-aloud and use your own pace for the most accurate estimate.
Words for each video length
| Video length | Spoken words (approx.) | Room for |
|---|---|---|
| 15 seconds | 30–40 | Hook and one beat |
| 30 seconds | 65–80 | Hook, two beats, close |
| 45 seconds | 100–120 | Hook, two or three beats, close |
| 60 seconds | 130–160 | Hook, three beats, close |
| 90 seconds | 200–240 | Hook, three or four beats, close |
| 2 minutes | 260–320 | Hook, a short story or several steps, close |
The ranges assume 130 to 160 words a minute. For the structure inside each length, use the short-form video script template.
How to time your own pace
- Pick a script you’ve written. Anything between 100 and 200 words works.
- Read it aloud once at the pace you use on camera, and time it.
- Divide the words by the minutes. 150 words in 65 seconds is about 138 words a minute.
- Use that number as your pace, and recheck it every few months.
What changes the length
- Pauses. A beat for emphasis or a laugh adds time that word counts miss.
- Demos and B-roll. Showing a screen, a product or a place takes seconds without words.
- On-screen text. If viewers need to read a list or a number, give them time.
- Edits. Tight cuts remove breaths and filler, so a finished video often runs a little shorter than the read-aloud.
Scripts in Melda OS
Melda OS drafts short-form scripts from a link or an idea and saves each one to a card with its source. Send the link, then name the card to change the length:
Write me a short script from this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=…
Rewrite the C1042 script so it runs about 30 seconds.
