Free voiceover & script tool
Words to Time Calculator
Estimate how long your script will take to record. Paste your script, enter a word count, or use pages and lines, then pick a reading pace to get the recording time instantly — replicating the Edge Studio calculation exactly.
Reading pace
3words / sec · 180 wpm
0words
0 characters
Counted like Edge Studio — letters only; standalone numbers aren't counted as words.
Estimated recording time
0 sec
0:00
0 words · 3 words/sec · 180 wpm
Per minute
180
words
Per hour
10,800
words
Per ½ min
90
words
Across delivery speeds · slower → average → faster
0 sec
0.5 wps · 30 wpm
0 sec
1 wps · 60 wpm
0 sec
1.5 wps · 90 wpm
0 sec
2 wps · 120 wpm
0 sec
2.5 wps · 150 wpm
0 sec
3 wps · 180 wpm · avg
0 sec
3.5 wps · 210 wpm
0 sec
4 wps · 240 wpm
0 sec
4.5 wps · 270 wpm
0 sec
5 wps · 300 wpm
0 sec
5.5 wps · 330 wpm
How it works
01
Enter your script
Paste your copy to count the words automatically, enter a known word count, or build it from pages, lines, and words per line.
02
Pick a reading pace
Choose slow, average, or fast — or set the exact words-per-second pace (1 to 5) with the slider.
03
Read the estimate
See the recording time instantly and compare it across every delivery speed from slower to faster.
The formula
Recording time (seconds) = word count ÷ words per second
Seconds are rounded down — the same as Edge Studio. The estimate assumes a steady read with no pauses, so leave a little headroom for breaths, music beds, and emphasis. For final delivery, confirm with a timed read.
Choose the right reading pace
Pace is the biggest driver of script length. These are sensible starting points — match them to the energy of your read.
Slow
1 wps · 60 wpm
Very slow, deliberate delivery — telephone/IVR prompts, scripts for non-native audiences (ESL), and meditation or breathing tutorials.
Average
3 wps · 180 wpm
Edge Studio's default — a natural pace for most narration, explainers, and presentations.
Fast
5 wps · 300 wpm
Energetic, high-powered delivery — commercials and fast-paced promos.
Frequently asked questions
How is the recording time calculated?+
Time in seconds equals the word count divided by your words-per-second pace, with the seconds rounded down. At the default pace of 3 words per second (180 words per minute), a 300-word script is about 1 minute 40 seconds. This mirrors the Edge Studio Words-to-Time Calculator exactly.
What do the speed settings mean?+
Speed is measured in words per second. 1 word per second (60 wpm) is very slow — phone prompts, ESL, or meditation scripts. 3 words per second (180 wpm) is the average reading pace. 5 words per second (300 wpm) is fast — commercials and high-powered promos. The result table also shows half-step paces from 0.5 to 5.5 words per second.
How are the words counted?+
A word is a run of letters that may contain an apostrophe or hyphen (so "it's" and "e-mail" each count once). Standalone numbers are not counted as words — for example "1000" and "42" are skipped. This matches Edge Studio's counting, so a pasted script returns the same word count here.
How many words fit a one-minute recording?+
About 180 words at the average pace of 3 words per second. A slow 1-word-per-second read fits roughly 60 words a minute, while a fast 5-word-per-second read fits around 300.
How do I estimate from pages and lines?+
Switch to the Pages mode and enter the number of pages, the average lines per page, and the average words per line. The word count is pages × lines-per-page × words-per-line, then converted to time. Edge Studio's working assumptions are 13 words per line and 21 lines per page.
Why might my recorded read differ from the estimate?+
The estimate assumes a steady pace with no pauses. Real reads vary with pauses, emphasis, complex terminology, numbers, and breathing. Use it as a fast planning figure, then confirm with a timed read for final delivery.
Need the voice, not just the timing?
Fiducial AI turns scripts into finished audio and video — from AI voiceover to motion-ready assets — so your timed read becomes a delivered cut.