Tools › Words to minutes
Words to Minutes Calculator
Paste your text to see how long it takes to say out loud, how many characters it has for an AI voice, and whether it fits a 30- or 60-second video.
How many words fit in…?
How it works
The math is simple: minutes = words ÷ words per minute. What changes the answer is your pace. A 600-word text takes 4 minutes at 150 words per minute, but almost 4 minutes 40 seconds if you speak slowly at 130.
That's why the calculator lets you pick one of three reference paces or, better, measure your own: paste a text, press "Start reading", read it out loud at your normal pace and press "Stop". From then on every result uses your real speed.
Which pace should I choose?
- Slow (about 130 words/min): presentations with slides, thesis defenses, speeches with pauses, or texts full of data and names.
- Average (about 150 words/min): a relaxed talk, a podcast, or a presentation where you speak naturally.
- Fast (about 170 words/min): short-form videos for TikTok, Reels or Shorts, where the voice is energetic and pauses are short.
How many words is a 5-minute speech?
This is the most common question. At an average pace, a 5-minute speech is about 750 words; about 650 if you speak slowly and about 850 if you speak fast. Here are the reference numbers for the most common lengths:
| Length | Slow (130/min) | Average (150/min) | Fast (170/min) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 minute | 130 | 150 | 170 |
| 2 minutes | 260 | 300 | 340 |
| 3 minutes | 390 | 450 | 510 |
| 5 minutes | 650 | 750 | 850 |
| 10 minutes | 1,300 | 1,500 | 1,700 |
| 15 minutes | 1,950 | 2,250 | 2,550 |
| 20 minutes | 2,600 | 3,000 | 3,400 |
| 30 minutes | 3,900 | 4,500 | 5,100 |
A tip for presentations: write about 10% fewer words than the table says. Pauses, slide changes and the odd improvised sentence always add time.
For short-form video scripts
On our own short-form channels we work with voiceovers of 100 to 115 words for 35- to 40-second videos, which is roughly 170 words per minute. It's a brisk pace that is still easy to follow with captions.
The "Which length does it fit?" bar puts a ✓ on every length your text fits (15 s, 30 s, 60 s, 90 s, 3, 5 and 10 minutes), so you know right away whether you need to cut.
- Leave 1–2 seconds at the end for the outro or the loop back to the start.
- Numbers, acronyms and web addresses take longer to say than they look on the page.
- If the video has music or effects with no voice, subtract that time before you calculate.
Characters for AI voices
Many AI voice services charge, or deduct credits, per character rather than per word. That's why the calculator shows characters with and without spaces. Check which one your service counts, and remember that regenerating a take uses the characters again.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to say 1,000 words?
About 6 minutes 40 seconds at an average pace (150 words per minute). Speaking slowly it's about 7 minutes 40 seconds, and at a fast pace about 5 minutes 50 seconds.
How many words do I need for a 10-minute presentation?
Between 1,300 and 1,500 words. For a presentation with slides, stay close to 1,300: you'll need time to point, change slides and breathe.
Is my text saved anywhere?
No. Everything is calculated in your browser; the text is never sent to a server.
Does it count words the same way as Word or Google Docs?
Almost always the same, or within a word or two. Any group of letters or numbers separated by spaces counts as a word; standalone symbols (like a dash) don't.
Does it work for silent reading?
This calculator is built for speaking out loud. Silent reading is much faster, so the result would come out too long.
Estudio Atajo makes short-form videos for TikTok, Reels and Shorts with script, voice, visuals and captions. From €35.
About the studioUpdated November 2026. Also available in Spanish.