Spoken length 0 words
0:00at 150 words a minute
Add a script to time it.
Your pace 150 wpm
Time yourself reading the whole script aloud, or keep 150, the middle of the usual range.
Target length
150 words fit in 60 seconds at 150 words a minute.
How many words fit
At the usual 130 to 160 words a minute, a script fits these lengths:
- 15 seconds: about 32 to 40 words.
- 30 seconds: about 65 to 80 words.
- 60 seconds: about 130 to 160 words.
- 90 seconds: about 195 to 240 words.
Leave a second or two at each end for the hook to land and the last line to breathe. Notes in [brackets] or (parentheses), such as [cut to screen], aren't counted, so you can time a script with its directions still in it.
Find your own pace
- Read one minute of a script aloud the way you'd say it on camera, or record yourself and stop at 60 seconds.
- Paste the part you got through into the timer and read the word count: that is your words a minute.
- Set the slider to it. Every length the timer shows now matches how you speak.
Fast-paced Shorts often run quicker than 160 once the pauses are cut, which is what makes them feel tight. Fast edit in Cuecaps removes the dead space between sentences after you record, so you can speak at a natural pace and still land under the limit.
After you record
Drop the video into Cuecaps: it finds every word you said, cuts the pauses, filler words and retakes with Fast edit, and animates word-by-word captions in one of ten styles. The video is rendered in your browser and never uploaded.
Questions
How many words is a 60 second Short?
About 130 to 160 words at a normal talking pace. A fast, tightly cut Short can hold more, and a calm explainer fewer.
Is my script saved or sent anywhere?
No. The count happens on this page as you type, and nothing is stored or sent. Reload the page and the box is empty.
Does it work in other languages?
Yes, it counts words in any language that puts spaces between them. Speaking rates differ by language, so time a minute of your own speech and set the slider to it.