ScriptfoxHow many words in a 1-minute speech?
A 1-minute speech is about 150 words at an average speaking pace of 150 words a minute: around 125 words if you speak slowly (125 a minute) and up to 175 if you speak fast (175).
Target 1:00 is about 150 words at this pace.
Conversational: most YouTube talking heads
Trims or stretches it to about 150 words, in your voice. Free, three a day.
ScriptFox scrolls as you speak, so you keep your eyes on the camera. Free, no card.
What fits in 1 minute
One minute holds one idea. At a conversational pace that is about 150 words, and most Shorts land between 130 and 170 because people talk fast when the clock is short. A 30-second version is about 75 words.
Open with the point in the first sentence, not a greeting. Spend the middle on one example or one reason, and end on what to do next. If the script has a second idea in it, that is the next video.
Read it aloud once with a timer before you film. Written text runs long: a script that looks like a minute on the page is usually 75 or 80 seconds out loud.
Words at every pace
Slow is 125 words a minute, average 150, fast 175. This length is marked; the others link to their own pages.
| Length | Slow (125 wpm) | Average (150 wpm) | Fast (175 wpm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30 seconds0:30 | 63 | 75 | 88 |
| 1 minute1:00 | 125 | 150 | 175 |
| 2 minutes2:00 | 250 | 300 | 350 |
| 3 minutes3:00 | 375 | 450 | 525 |
| 5 minutes5:00 | 625 | 750 | 875 |
| 8 minutes8:00 | 1,000 | 1,200 | 1,400 |
| 10 minutes10:00 | 1,250 | 1,500 | 1,750 |
| 15 minutes15:00 | 1,875 | 2,250 | 2,625 |
| 20 minutes20:00 | 2,500 | 3,000 | 3,500 |
| 30 minutes30:00 | 3,750 | 4,500 | 5,250 |
Frequently asked questions
How many words is a 60-second video script?
About 150 words at an average pace. Shorts and Reels tend to run faster, so 160 to 170 words fits a minute if you speak quickly; a 30-second clip is about 75 words.
How many words is a one-minute toast or introduction?
About 125 to 140 words. A toast is slower than a video: you pause for the room, and you want it to feel unhurried. Aim low and let the pauses fill the minute.
What if my script is 200 words and I need one minute?
Cut, don't speed up. A 200-word script read in 60 seconds is 200 words a minute, which sounds rushed on camera. The timer above can trim it to about 150 for you, keeping your words.
Written. Timed. Now read it to the camera.
ScriptFox follows your voice so you never lose your line. Free to try, no card required.