Time your script read live — paste a script, set a speaking pace and watch the clock, then see the actual WPM you read.
AI-powered audio review & delivery for voice production teams
Sizing a script before you record?
Estimate its length first with the free Words to Minutes calculator, then rehearse the read against the clock here.
Paste a script, pick a pace and press Start, then read aloud. Pause when you finish to see the actual words per minute you spoke. Everything runs in your browser — nothing is uploaded.
The highlighted word is where a read should be right now — a pacing guide, not strict scrolling.
A script timer turns rehearsal into data. Paste your script, choose the pace you will actually deliver, and the estimated read time appears instantly. Press Start and read aloud at a natural pace: the running clock and progress bar track you against the estimate, while the optional read-along highlight shows roughly which word a reader at that pace would be on. Pause the moment you finish and the timer reports your real elapsed time and the actual words per minute you spoke — so you know whether the read fits the slot before you ever hit record.
| Pace | Words per minute | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| Slow | ~110 wpm | E-learning, technical narration, audiobooks read for clarity |
| Conversational | ~140 wpm | Explainer videos, corporate narration, podcasts (default) |
| Fast | ~170 wpm | Energetic commercials, trailers and promos |
Most voice-over and presentation reads land between 110 and 170 wpm. Set a custom pace (60–300 wpm) to match a specific narrator or a director's brief.
Use the estimate to size a script before you record — it is a static calculation of length from your word count and pace. Use the live timer when you are rehearsing the actual read: it measures the time you really take and the pace you really hit, which is almost always different from the math because real delivery adds breaths, pauses for emphasis and beats for on-screen action. Estimate first, then rehearse against the clock.
Divide the word count by your speaking pace: a 700-word script at 140 words per minute takes about 5 minutes. That is the estimate — use the Words to Minutes calculator for a quick number. To know how long it really takes, paste the script above, pick a pace and press Start: the live timer measures your actual read, breaths and pauses included.
For most narration, a conversational 140 words per minute is the sweet spot — clear but not sluggish. Drop to about 110 wpm for e-learning or technical reads where comprehension matters, and push toward 170 wpm for energetic commercials and promos. Presenters and speakers usually land between 120 and 150 wpm.
Both, at different stages. The Words to Minutes calculator is a static estimate: it converts a word count into speaking time so you can size a script while drafting. The script timer is a live measurement: you read the script aloud and it reports your actual elapsed time and the real words per minute you spoke. Estimate to plan, time to rehearse.
Paste your voice-over script, choose the pace you intend to deliver and press Start, then read aloud exactly as you would in the booth. Pause when you reach the end: the timer shows the actual duration and your real words-per-minute rate. Record a scratch take with the free Voice Recorder, or transcribe an existing take with Audio Transcription and paste it back to check its length.
Aim for roughly 140 words per minute for conversational narration. Use ~110 wpm when clarity is critical and ~170 wpm for high-energy reads. The right number is the one that fits your slot and still sounds natural — start the live timer, read a passage, and compare the actual pace it reports against your target.
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