Word to time count

How long will the finished recording of your script be?  This handy Voiceover Script Timer will get you in the ballpark.

Many professional voice actors rely on this converter:  Just enter the number of words in your voiceover script.  Or paste your script.  Or enter the number of pages, average number of lines per page, and average number of words per line.

That’s it. Hit enter and the voiceover converter will show you how long the finished recording will be.  And because performances vary, you can adjust the timing to your reading speed.

So stop guessing! Give accurate estimates and invoices to your clients every time!

• The Calculator
• Statistics

Average Reading Speeds

If you read 1 word per second, then you will read:

• 30 words per half-minute
• 60 words per minute
• 3,600 words per hour
• 13 seconds per line (assuming 13 words per line)
• 273 seconds per page (assuming 13 words per line and 21 lines per page)

If you read 2 words per second, then you will read:

• 60 words per half-minute
• 120 words per minute
• 7,200 words per hour
• 6.5 seconds per line (assuming 13 words per line)
• 136 seconds per page (assuming 13 words per line and 21 lines per page)

If you read 3 words per second, then you will read:

• 90 words per half-minute
• 180 words per minute
• 10,800 words per hour
• 4 seconds per line (assuming 13 words per line)
• 91 seconds per page (assuming 13 words per line and 21 lines per page)

If you read 4 words per second, then you will read:

• 120 words per half-minute
• 240 words per minute
• 14,400 words per hour
• 3.2 seconds per line (assuming 13 words per line)
• 68 seconds per page (assuming 13 words per line and 21 lines per page)

If you read 5 words per second, then you will read:

• 150 words per half-minute
• 300 words per minute
• 18,000 words per hour
• 2.6 seconds per line (assuming 13 words per line)
• 54 seconds per page (assuming 13 words per line and 21 lines per page)

slower delivery

average

faster delivery

Line Count

• Average number of lines per page: 21
• Average number of lines per 30-second spot: 7.5
• Average number of lines per 60-second spot: 15

Word Count

• Average words per line: 13 (range is 8 to 18)
• Average words per page: 273 (range is 168 to 378)

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🏆 Top 10 Free Words to Minutes Converter

1.

Speech in Minutes

This is a free-to-use speech calculator to measure how long it takes to deliver your speech.
To use this tool, you need to enter the word count and choose the reading speed: from slow
(100 words per minute) to fast (160 words per minute). No registration is needed.

2.

Words to Time

Words To Time as an ad-free text to speech calculator that will provide you with the number
of minutes immediately. You can type the number of words you want to convert or paste your
text and grab the result. Don’t forget to pick up the reading speed!

3.

The Word Finder

This is a free speech length estimator. No sign-up, no ads, or captcha. Type the word count,
choose speaking speed, and grab the result immediately. There are also available various
cool apps like Font Generators, Backwards Text Converter, Time Calc, etc.

4.
EdgeStudio

Edge Studio, the voice recording company, developed a free online script timer. Depending on
the data available, you can put the words count, paste your text, or type the average words
per line. You will get a result instantly after you click the button “Submit.” On the tab
“Statistics,” you can find out stats about reading speed, word, and line count.

5.
Copywritely

At this website, you can measure the time of reading your text within a couple of clicks
using its words to minutes calculator. Paste your text, and at the bottom of the field, you
will see the word count and the approximate speech time.

The tool is available in English, Russian, French, German, Spanish, Portuguese, and Dutch.
Also, there are available Grammar Checker, Alphabetizer, Words to Pages, and other apps that
will become handy for any writing purpose.

6.
Read-O-Meter

Read-O-Meter is a simple and hassle-free word to minutes calculator to estimate the reading
time. All you have to do is just type or paste the text you want to calculate the speech or
article length and press the button “Estimate Reading Time.”

7.

TheVoice Realm

This speech length calculator was designed by the online voice casting company. To use it,
you need to paste your text or the word count and find out the estimated time. The page also
contains background information about the speaking speed and how many minutes in 300, 900,
and more words.

8.
Voices

To use the Words to Time Conversion tool, you need to know the word count of your text. To
get the estimated speech time, you need to type the number of words and adjust reading or
speaking time, and you will get an immediate result. The tool is free and contains no
ads.

9.

Debatrix

This is another ad-free word to minute speech calculator to find out how long your speech
will take. To measure the estimated time, you need to paste the text. The online app will
count the number of words and speech duration.

10.

TextConverter

The website provides plenty of tools that will be useful for students, SEO specialists, and
writers.

Choose the text type: speech or locution, reading rhythm, and get the estimated time for your
project. The app also will count the number of words and characters.

On the website, you can also find other utilities: Text Randomizer, Upper and Lower Case
converters, E-mails Extractor, Hashtags, etc. The site is available in English and
Portuguese languages.

🎤 How Long Does a 4-Minute Speech Have to
Be?

Why do we need to measure the reading or speaking time?

There can be a variety of reasons. For example, you should prepare a 5-minute speech, or your
post should not exceed 10 minutes of reading.

Speaking or reading time depends on the person who is going to read the text. Below, you will
find a table that will help you quickly determine the duration of the content. The table is
divided into two parts. The first one gives you reference information of minutes to words
conversion. The second one shows the inverse correlation.

This table provides only the estimated information. The actual speech duration depends on
your speaking pace, pauses, and so on. Below you will find out what impacts and how to
measure your speaking rate.

Keep reading!

⏱ How to Measure Your Speech Length?

In this post, we will share with you how to measure how long your speech will be. Also, you
will find out what impacts your speaking pace and how to practice it.

Determine the Word Count

First things first, so let’s determine the number of words you want to turn to minutes. If
you use the Microsoft Word or Open Office, you will find out the word count on the status
bar at the bottom of the screen.

In Google Docs, you can click Tools>>Word Count, or use the shortcut CTRL+SHIFT+C. If you use
other word processors, refer to the help system of the tool.

Determine the Speech Pace

If you don’t know how many words you speak per minute, there are a couple of options to find
out it. Check them below!

1. Use the sample text. Here is how it works: take your sample text, start the timer,
   and begin reading it aloud. When the minute is up, use your word processing app to
   figure out how many words you read. This will be your speed of speech.

2. Record yourself. Another way to find out your speaking pace is to record your speech.
   Set a timer for a minute, read any text, or talk about any topic while recording it.
   Then, listen to it and count the words you spoke. You can count it manually or use
   the software, for example,
   IBM Speech to Text
   calculator.

What Impacts Your Speaking Rate?

The speaking rate is individual. There are many factors that influence it. Here are some of
them:

1. Pauses, and rhetorical devices. The more it has, the slower your speaking rate will
   be.
2. Condition of the speaker. If you’re angry, excited, or in a hurry, you will probably
   speak faster than usual. On the other hand, when you are tired, it makes it harder to
   speak quickly.
3. Urgency. Here’s the deal: in emergencies, we are more likely will speak quicker than in
   a calm environment.
4. Mental issues. Some mental conditions may lead to a slower or faster speech rate.
5. Audience and event. For example, if you are recording audio for a radio ad, you will
   speak faster, since you are limited by the time. Another example is when you are trying
   to explain the complicated term to students. More likely, you will slow down your
   speech. During the presentation, you can also make pauses while changing the slides or
   checking your notes.
6. Environment. Yes, your background directly impacts your speaking pace: your dialect,
   family, culture, friends, and neighbors, etc.
7. Words and content complexity. The long and complex words also impact your speaking pace,
   making it slower. The same can be said about complex content—it requires more time to
   deliver it to the audience. Remember about this if you are limited by time.
8. Language. Depending on the language you speak, your speaking rate will vary. In 2011, the
   University of Lyon researchers
   asked volunteers to read twenty texts in their native languages: English, German,
   French, Spanish, Mandarin, Japanese, and Italian. The purpose of studies was to find out
   how the density of syllables impacts the rate of communication.

Here’s what they found: the Mandarin language is the slowest one, with 5.18 syllables per
second. However, it has the highest information density. The fastest language is Japanese,
with its 7.84 syllables per second rate. English language speaking rate is 6.19 syllables
per second.

Another interesting fact about the speaking rate is the world record shattered by Steve Woodmore. He articulates 637 words in one minute!

If you are wondering about the average speaking rates, check the table below:

Source: National Center for Voice and Speech

But what about reading? Is the reading pace the same as speaking?

On average, people read 180-300 words per minute. However,
speed readers
can read 1000+ words per minute.

How to Practice Your Speaking Rate?

You might have met people called a motor-mouth — they speak too fast, and words seem rocket
out from their mouths. Others, on the opposite, speak too slowly. You can compare them with
sloths from the movie Zootopia:

Both these cases can be fun for a while. However, the too fast and too slow speech will make
the listeners lose their interest.

The solution is to practice your speaking rate, making it flexible, and adapting to your
audience’s needs.

Below, you will find five easy exercises that will help you to develop a flexible speaking
rate:

1. Read children’s books aloud.

   Here’s the deal: when you read stories to a child, you might notice that some
   passages require you to speak faster, while others must be read at a slow pace.

   Read a story several times aloud to become familiar with the text and its passages.
   If it is possible, record yourself. Then, try reading the text and change the pace.
   Listen to the records to hear the differences. Think of how the speaking rate
   impacts the comprehension of the text.

2. Read scientific reports.

   You may find this exercise boring, but yet it will be helpful for delivering complex
   things in your future speeches.

   First, pick up the newspaper or magazine. For example, you can try a Science magazine website — there are plenty of interesting
   topics, reports, and articles to discover. After you select the report, read it
   silently to familiarize yourself with the material. The next step is to read it
   aloud (don’t forget about recording yourself!), noting which parts of the text
   should be read at a slow pace, and which — faster.

   You can extend this exercise and image that you read the article to someone who knows
   nothing about this topic. Listen to the records and pay attention to the changes you
   made.

3. Read your own class speeches.

   Make a series of experiments with one of your old class speeches. First, record it
   delivering the speech at your normal speaking pace. Check the time it took to
   deliver.

   The next step is to mark down some passages to read at slower and others — at a
   faster rate. Now, read it aloud again while adhering to the marks. Listen to the
   records; note how changed the time and overall speech comprehension.

4. Listen to various speakers.

   Watch the movie, listen to the news on TV, and watch the classical play. Compare the
   speech rates of the speakers. You will notice the rhetorical devices
   they use and how effective their speech is. Then, experiment with your own speech
   and see how it changes.

5. Read texts you are familiar with.

   Read the text you already know at a quicker or slower pace than usual. Record
   yourself and play it back. Note the places where your speaking rate was effective
   and where it wasn’t. Then, mark these places and reread the text again, implementing
   these changes and recording yourself. See how your speech has changed.

These simple exercises will help you to produce effective speeches for
various audiences.

There are a couple of things you need to remember when you speak:

• Fast speaking indicates urgency, passion, and emotions. If you want to stimulate and
  excite the attention of your listeners, speak quickly. However, you should remember that
  after a couple of minutes of listening to fast speech, it becomes overwhelming.
• Slow speaking, on the other hand, indicates the seriousness of your point, its
  importance. Use this approach to grab the attention of your audience. The slow pace also
  will help them to easier process the information you want to deliver. Similar to fast
  speaking, too slow pace in your entire speech also can overwhelm and bore your
  listeners.

How to Make the Speech Memorable

Pace yourself to highlight the most important parts of the speech, and your audience will
memorize what you said. The key to any great speech is the retention of the audience. Check
the IvyPanda expert
advice to make your talks memorable:

1. Tell stories. Interesting examples not only illustrate your speech but also help
   listeners to recall what you said. Humor and short stories from your life will also help
   you to grab the attention of your audience. Important notice: tell only relevant ones
   and don’t overuse them.
2. Use pauses and breaks. Just like a novel is broken into chapters and paragraphs, pauses
   in your speech serve as a signal of the end of one point and transition to another.

3. Use simple and short sentences and phrases.
   Short sentences

   and simple language will help you to maximize the engagement and comprehension of your
   audience. Avoid complex words unless you are talking about specific tech terms in
   front of the professionals in this sphere.

4. Engage your audience with questions. At the beginning of the speech, ask your audience a
   question or two. This method will give them a hook and grab their attention.
5. Review your speech after you wrote it. Check if everything is clear. Rehearse it in
   various rates and note places where you need to speed up your speech and where to slow
   it down.

Now you know how to find out the length of your speech, have all the tools to convert words
to minutes, and advice on how to practice your speaking rate. Don’t forget to check our
other tools to write outstanding speeches.