Scripts and hooks
Free toolsWords per minute calculator
Words to time. Time to words.
How long 500 words take to say, how many words fill a 60 second Short, and what your own pace is. Free, nothing to install.
3:20
500 words take 3 min 20 s at 150 words a minute.
Speaking pace150 words a minute
YouTube, podcasts, most talking videos
Words for each video length
At 150 words a minute.
| Length | Words |
|---|---|
| 15 secondsA Story or a hook test | 38 |
| 30 secondsA short ad or a quick tip | 75 |
| 1 minuteTikTok, Reels and Shorts | 150 |
| 90 secondsA full Reel | 225 |
| 3 minutesA long Short or a TikTok | 450 |
| 5 minutesA short YouTube video or a talk | 750 |
| 10 minutesA YouTube video | 1,500 |
| 20 minutesA lesson or a keynote | 3,000 |
Write to the length you need: CopyMe's script writer drafts to a target time and shows the running length as you edit.
Write a script in CopyMeWrite to length
Know the number. Then write to it.
Tell CopyMe's writer the idea and the length, and the draft comes back at that length, in your voice. The editor keeps the running time in view as you change it.
A script at the length you need
Pick 60 seconds for a Short or 8 minutes for YouTube and the writer drafts to it. In the editor, AI helpers finish lines and catch what will trip you up when you say it aloud.
Questions
How many words a minute do people speak?
About 150 in conversation and on camera. Calm explainers and lessons sit nearer 120 to 140, energetic Shorts and ads 160 to 190. Reading silently is much faster, about 240, which is why scripts timed by reading them in your head come out too short.
How do I convert words to minutes?
Divide the word count by your speaking pace. 750 words at 150 words a minute is 5 minutes. The calculator does it for any pace and shows the seconds too.
How many words is a 3 minute video?
About 450 words at a natural pace of 150 words a minute, 360 if you speak slowly and 540 if you speak fast.
How do I find my own speaking pace?
Read a passage of known length aloud, time it, and enter both under Find my pace. Or take the speaking speed test, which listens and counts for you.
What does CopyMe add?
CopyMe is an AI teleprompter that follows your voice as you speak. Its script writer drafts to the length you pick, the editor shows the running time at your own pace, and the prompter keeps up with you while you record. It has a 7-day free trial; a card is needed to start and nothing is charged during the trial.
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