Convert words to minutes of speaking time instantly. Paste a script or enter a word count to see narration length at slow, conversational and fast speaking rates.
AI-powered audio review & delivery for voice production teams
Timing an existing recording instead?
Transcribe it with the free Audio Transcription tool, then paste the transcript here to see its word count and pace.
| Slow — 110 wpm | Conversational — 140 wpm | Fast — 170 wpm |
|---|---|---|
Durations are rounded to the nearest 5 seconds. Your inputs are saved in this browser, so they survive a reload — nothing is uploaded.
At a conversational narration pace of 140 words per minute — the rate most explainer videos, podcasts and corporate narration are read at — a script needs roughly the following word counts:
| Script length | Word count at 140 wpm (conversational) |
|---|---|
| 1-minute script | ≈ 140 words |
| 2-minute script | ≈ 280 words |
| 5-minute script | ≈ 700 words |
| 10-minute script | ≈ 1,400 words |
| 30-minute script | ≈ 4,200 words |
Delivery changes the math: at a slow, deliberate 110 wpm a 1-minute script is only about 110 words, while an energetic 170 wpm read fits about 170. Use the calculator above with the Slow or Fast preset — or a custom words-per-minute rate — to budget for the narrator you actually booked.
Typical speaking words per minute fall between 110 and 170. E-learning and technical narration sit near 110–130 wpm so learners can follow, audiobooks and explainer videos around 140–160, and high-energy commercial reads push 170 wpm or more. Conversational speech averages about 140 wpm, which is why this calculator uses it as the default.
Divide the word count by the speaking rate in words per minute: 700 words ÷ 140 wpm = 5 minutes. This page does that instantly — paste the script or type the word count, pick a rate, and read off the duration. The side-by-side table shows the slow, conversational and fast results at once.
Divide the recording's word count by its length in minutes. To get the word count, run the file through the free Audio Transcription tool and paste the transcript into the script box above — the live counter gives you the words, and your player gives you the minutes.
A words-to-minutes estimate covers continuous speech. Real reads add breaths, pauses for emphasis, pronunciation care around names and numbers, and beats for on-screen action. Budget roughly 10% extra for finished narration, and QA the final file with the free Voice Quality Analyzer before delivery.
Yes. The same words-per-minute math applies to speeches, sermons, lectures and conference talks — presenters usually land between 120 and 150 wpm. Paste your talk, choose a rate that matches your delivery, and you'll know whether it fits the slot before you rehearse.
VoiceDeck adds AI-powered audio & video review and delivery for your whole team — so every file ships in spec, automatically.
