Teleprompter words per minute calculator
Paste your script to see how long it runs at a given speed, or enter the length you need and get the speed to set.
Step by step: fit a script to an exact time
- Paste the script. The editor counts the words you’ll actually say, leaving out # labels and [notes], and shows how long the script runs at your speed.
- Type a target in Fit to. Need it to land at 2:30? Type 2:30 into Fit to and save. Reframely sets the speed for you: here, 165 words a minute.
- Read with the time left in view. The prompter counts down the time left as you read, so you know at a glance whether you’re on schedule.
How the numbers work
Length = words ÷ words per minute. A 300-word script at 150 wpm runs two minutes. To hit a target, flip it: speed = words ÷ minutes. Bracketed cues like [PAUSE] and # section labels aren't counted, since you don't say them.
Typical speeds
- Around 120 to 130 wpm: slower, deliberate delivery, or for viewers in a second language.
- Around 130 to 160 wpm: a common conversational range on camera.
- 160 wpm and up: energetic short-form videos. Above about 180 most people start to rush.
These are rough guides; rehearse once and adjust.
Do it inside the teleprompter
In Reframely's script editor, type a target such as 2:30 into Fit to and save. The speed is set for you, and the prompter shows time left as you read.
Find your own pace in one minute
- Open any script in Reframely and start voice follow, or simply read aloud with a timer.
- Read naturally for exactly one minute, as if to camera.
- Count where you got to: the editor shows word counts, or the rehearsal report shows your pace if you used voice follow.
Use that number as your starting speed. Most people are slightly faster when nervous and slower when explaining something technical, so adjust per script.
Pace by format
| Format | Typical pace |
|---|---|
| Short social video | 150 to 180 wpm |
| YouTube talking head | 140 to 165 wpm |
| Course or tutorial | 120 to 145 wpm |
| Speech to a room | 110 to 140 wpm |
These are rough ranges to start from, not rules; clarity matters more than speed. See also the speech length calculator.
Questions
How many words is a 1-minute script?
At a typical 130 to 160 words per minute, about 130 to 160 words.
How long is a 500-word script?
About 3 minutes 20 seconds at 150 wpm, or just under 4 minutes at 130 wpm.
Last updated .