Free tool
ElevenLabs Credit Calculator
Find out how many ElevenLabs credits you need for your videos, podcasts or audiobooks — by minutes or by pasting your script.
Estimates only. ElevenLabs bills text to speech by characters (including spaces), and credit rates differ by model and plan. Rates shown are typical at the time of writing — always confirm on the official ElevenLabs pricing page. This tool is independent and not affiliated with ElevenLabs.
How to use the ElevenLabs credit calculator
- Choose how to calculate. Enter the length of audio you need, or paste your finished script for an exact character count.
- Pick your speaking pace. Most narration sits around 150 words per minute. Calm or meditation content is slower; ads and social clips are faster.
- Select the model type. Fast “Flash” or “Turbo” models usually cost less per character than the most expressive, highest-quality models.
- Add a retake buffer. You will regenerate some lines. 20–30% is realistic for most projects.
- Enter projects per month and, optionally, your plan’s monthly credits to see whether your plan is big enough.
How the estimate works
ElevenLabs charges text to speech in credits, based on the number of characters you convert — including spaces and punctuation. An average English word is about five letters plus a space, so we assume roughly 6 characters per word. At 150 words per minute that is about 900 characters for every minute of audio.
The calculator multiplies characters by the credit rate of the model you choose, adds your retake buffer and multiplies by the number of projects. If you paste a script, it uses the exact character count instead.
Tips to make your credits go further
- Proofread before you generate — fixing typos afterwards costs credits.
- Test voices and settings with one short paragraph, not your whole script.
- Generate long scripts in sections so you only redo what needs fixing.
- Use a faster, cheaper model for drafts and the premium model for the final take.
- Clean up numbers and symbols first with our script cleaner to avoid mispronunciations and retakes.
Frequently asked questions
How many characters is one minute of audio?
Roughly 800–1,000 characters for typical English narration, depending on speaking speed and word length. Use our script length calculator for a detailed breakdown.
Do spaces and punctuation count?
Yes. Text-to-speech usage is generally counted on every character you submit, so spaces and punctuation are included in this calculator.
Are these the official ElevenLabs prices?
No. This is an independent estimate. Credit rates, plan allowances and prices change, so check the official ElevenLabs pricing page before you buy. Read our guide ElevenLabs pricing explained to choose the right plan.