VO Script Timer: How Long Will Your Voice-Over Script Run?

This is the length of the finished audio, not how long you spend in the booth. It comes down to your word count and reading pace: the runtime in minutes equals your word count divided by your words-per-minute rate. A 750-word script read at 150 WPM runs about five minutes of finished audio. Rather than work it out by hand, enter your word count above and set your pace; the timer returns the runtime in hours, minutes, and seconds instantly. For an accurate result, use your spoken word count, not the written count, since numbers, currency, and abbreviations expand when read aloud.

The script timer estimates the finished length of your recording based on a steady reading pace at your selected WPM. The actual length of your finished audio may differ due to natural pauses, emphasis, and character voices. For most professional voice-over work, the estimate is typically within 10-20% of the actual finished length.

Written word counts don't account for how text is actually spoken. For example, "$25.99" is 1 written word but becomes "twenty-five dollars and ninety-nine cents" when spoken (7 words). For accurate timing, use our script word counter first to get the spoken word count.

Absolutely! Audiobooks typically use 110-130 WPM for clarity, commercials often use 150-180 WPM for energy, and technical content may be slower at 100-130 WPM for comprehension. Use our preset buttons or adjust the slider based on your project's needs and target audience.

The tool remembers your preferred WPM setting using browser storage for convenience. This way, you don't have to reset your typical speaking pace every time you use the timer. You can always adjust it for different projects using the slider or preset buttons.

The timer works for any language, but speaking rates vary between languages. English averages 130-150 WPM for conversational pace. Spanish and Italian tend to be faster, while German and Finnish are often slower. Adjust the WPM setting based on your target language's natural rhythm.

For scripts with complex terminology, medical content, legal text, or challenging pronunciations, reduce your WPM by 10-20% from your normal pace. This accounts for the extra care needed for accuracy and clarity. Consider using 100-120 WPM for highly technical content.

Pick a script you're comfortable with and record yourself reading it at your normal pace. Then count the words and divide by how many minutes it took. For example, if you read 400 words in 3 minutes, your natural pace is about 133 WPM. Do this a few times with different scripts to get a reliable average. Most conversational VO work lands between 120 and 140 WPM.

No. The timer estimates the finished recording length based on a steady reading pace at your chosen WPM. It does not account for natural pauses between sentences, breath marks, or dramatic beats that may add to the final length. For a rough guide, add 10-20% to the estimate if your script calls for a slower, more deliberate delivery with pauses. For fast-paced reads like commercials, the estimate will be closer to your actual finished length.

Yes. The script timer is completely free to use with no limits, no sign-ups, and no ads. The same goes for our script word counter. Both tools are built for working voice-over professionals and we plan to keep them free.