Free tool
Script to Audio Length Calculator
Convert words or characters into minutes of audio — or find out how many words you need for a video, ad or audiobook.
Speaking speeds vary by voice, language and settings. Generate a short test paragraph to measure your chosen voice’s real pace.
How to use the script length calculator
Paste your script to see how long it will take to read aloud, enter a word or character count, or work backwards from a target length to find out how many words you need. Choose a speaking pace that matches your content.
Average speaking speeds
- Slow (about 130 words per minute): meditation, sleep stories, children’s content and complex topics.
- Average (about 150 words per minute): audiobooks, documentaries, e-learning and most YouTube narration.
- Fast (about 170 words per minute): adverts, social media clips and energetic explainers.
AI voices each have their own natural pace, and speed settings change it further. For the most accurate result, generate one paragraph with your chosen voice, time it and use the custom pace option.
Quick reference
- 30-second ad: about 75–85 words
- 1-minute intro: about 150 words
- 10-minute YouTube video: about 1,500 words
- 1-hour audiobook: about 9,000 words
Frequently asked questions
How many words is a 5-minute speech?
About 650–850 words, depending on pace. At an average of 150 words per minute it is roughly 750 words.
Why does character count matter?
Many AI voice tools, including ElevenLabs, measure usage by characters. Knowing your character count helps you estimate cost — try our ElevenLabs credit calculator.