ScriptfoxHow many words in a 4-minute speech?
A 4-minute speech is about 600 words at an average speaking pace of 150 words a minute: around 500 words if you speak slowly (125 a minute) and up to 700 if you speak fast (175).
Target 4:00 is about 600 words at this pace.
Conversational: most YouTube talking heads
Trims or stretches it to about 600 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 4 minutes
Four minutes is about 600 words. It is long enough to set up a problem and work through it, and short enough that nobody checks the time.
Many YouTube talking-head videos that feel 'short and useful' run four to five minutes. Shape it as a question in the first 15 seconds, the answer in the middle, and the one thing to remember at the end.
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 four-minute speech?
About 600 words at an average pace of 150 words a minute; between 500 spoken slowly and 700 spoken fast.
Is four minutes a good length for a YouTube video?
It is a good length for an answer to one question. Videos under five minutes keep a high share of viewers to the end, which matters more for a new channel than total watch time does.
How long does it take to write a four-minute script?
About an hour for a first draft of 600 words if you know the subject, and another half hour to read it aloud and cut what you would never say to a person.
Written. Timed. Now read it to the camera.
ScriptFox follows your voice so you never lose your line. Free to try, no card required.