How many words in a 60-second video script (and 15, 30, 90)?
A 60-second video script is about 150 words at a steady to-camera pace of 150 words per minute. That works out at roughly 37 words for 15 seconds, 75 for 30 seconds and 225 for 90 seconds. If you naturally talk fast, you can fit about 175 words into a minute; if you are calm and deliberate, about 130.
Word counts by length and pace
The sum is simple: words = seconds × words per minute ÷ 60, rounded down so you never run over.
| Length | Calm (130 wpm) | Steady (150 wpm) | Radio news (170 wpm) | Chatty (175 wpm) | Fast (190 wpm) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 seconds | 15 | 17 | 19 | 20 | 22 |
| 15 seconds | 32 | 37 | 42 | 43 | 47 |
| 30 seconds | 65 | 75 | 85 | 87 | 95 |
| 45 seconds | 97 | 112 | 127 | 131 | 142 |
| 60 seconds | 130 | 150 | 170 | 175 | 190 |
| 90 seconds | 195 | 225 | 255 | 262 | 285 |
| 3 minutes | 390 | 450 | 510 | 525 | 570 |
Paste your own script into our free script timer to get the time for your exact words, with pauses added for each paragraph break.
Where these paces come from
There is no single "right" speaking speed, but there is good evidence for the range:
- Everyday conversation is about 173 words per minute. An analysis of 5,850 recorded phone conversations in the Fisher English corpus found an average of 172.7 words per minute, with most people within about 27 words per minute of that (Liberman, Language Log, 2005).
- Radio news sits at 160 to 180. A study of 40 news bulletins found that most radio guidance recommends 160 to 180 words per minute, and BBC bulletins fell inside that range (Rodero, Text & Talk, 2012).
- English averages about 4 syllables a second, with a wide normal range depending on the situation (speech tempo overview, citing Cruttenden's Gimson's Pronunciation of English).
The 150 words per minute "steady" figure is a writer's convention rather than a measured average. It is a little slower than conversation, which allows for the fact that reading a script to a lens usually comes out more careful than chatting to a friend, and leaves room for emphasis.
Time yourself: the 30-second test
Your own pace beats any average. To find it:
- Take a script of about 100 words, written the way you talk.
- Start a stopwatch and read it out loud as if you were filming. Don't rush.
- Divide the number of words by the seconds it took, then multiply by 60.
Worked example: 100 words in 37 seconds is 100 ÷ 37 × 60 = 162 words per minute. Use that figure in the timer's "My own pace" setting. Most people read faster on camera when they are nervous, so time a second read once you have warmed up.
Split the words into beats
A word count tells you the total. A short video also needs those words in the right places. A simple structure for 30 seconds at 150 words per minute:
| Beat | Seconds | Words | Job |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hook | 3 | 7 | Make the right person stop |
| Set-up | 5 | 12 | Why this matters to them |
| Point 1 | 7 | 17 | One idea, one example |
| Point 2 | 6 | 15 | One idea, one example |
| Payoff | 6 | 15 | Deliver what the hook promised |
| Call to action | 3 | 7 | One ask |
Notice how few words that leaves for each point: about the length of one sentence. That is why short scripts feel tight. If a point needs more, cut a point rather than squeezing in words. Our shot list generator builds this table for any length and pace, with framing for each shot.
Why your video still runs long
- Pauses. A half-second pause at each paragraph break adds up: six breaks is three seconds, which is a whole hook.
- Visual beats. Moments with no words, like a reveal or a reaction, still take time. Count them as seconds, not words.
- Talking points. Speaking from bullet points rather than a script tends to add words. Time a practice run.
- Numbers and names. "£1,250" is one word in the count but "one thousand two hundred and fifty pounds" when said. Read numbers out the way you will say them.
How long can the video be?
The limits are generous now. Instagram raised Reels uploads to three minutes in January 2025 (Social Media Today), and YouTube Shorts can be up to three minutes in a square or vertical format. A longer limit is not a reason to fill it. Write the shortest script that delivers the hook's promise, then check it against the table above.
Captions matter too: many people watch with the sound off. TikTok recommends showing 5 to 10 words a second when you use on-screen text (TikTok creative best practices). At a chatty 175 words per minute you are speaking about 3 words a second, so word-by-word captions keep up comfortably.
Questions
How many words is a 15-second video?
About 37 words at a steady 150 words per minute, 32 at a calm 130, and 43 at a chatty 175. Fewer if you want room for a pause or a reaction.
How many words is a 90-second script?
About 225 words at 150 words per minute, or 262 at an everyday chatting pace of 175.
How many words per second do people speak?
About 2.5 words a second at 150 words per minute, and just under 3 a second at an everyday chatting pace of about 173 words per minute.
Is it better to script word for word or use talking points?
Word for word gives exact timing and is best for hooks and punchlines. Talking points sound more natural but run longer, so time a practice read and trim. Many creators script the hook and the ending and speak the middle from points.
Related
- Script timer: how long will your video script take to say?
Paste a script and see how long it takes to say out loud, plus the word budget for 15, 30, 60 or 90 seconds.
- Short-form video hook formulas that work on TikTok, Reels and Shorts
Eight hook formulas with examples, the three layers every hook has, and how to check yours is working.
- Hook and shot list generator for TikTok, Reels and Shorts
Type your topic and get eight hook options and a timed shot list with framing, word budgets and a CSV download.