How many words are in the script?
What's your reading speed? (Words per minute)
Estimated Run Time of the Final Audio
Hours Minutes
Words to Time Calculator
This word-to-time tool helps voice actors compare their speaking rate to the script that is associated with the job that they are responding to or are completing. Understanding how many words per minute you speak will help you estimate how long it will take you to read the script, which in turn helps inform how long it will take you to complete the job and helps determine a fair price for the job.
To assess how fast you are delivering your voice acting performance, you can use a timer as you read your lines. Time it for one minute and see how many words you read out loud. When it comes to the number of words each of us speaks per minute, the flow is as individual as you are. There are many things to consider, such as what the script requires. For instance, is the character you’re playing speaking in a laid back drawl or are they using an announcer read? The number of words you speak per minute may vary based on these stylistic decisions.
According to the National Center for Voice and Speech, the average rate of conversational talk in the US is around 150 words per minute (wpm). This means that when you come across a script with a ‘conversational voice’ listed, you might expect the speech rate to fall somewhat in line with this guideline. But it is always helpful to try out your reading rate with different styles of reading to discover how your voice may behave differently under different demands.
Use our speaking time calculator or just glance of this chart below.
Common Words to Time Conversions
| How long does it take to read a 100 word script? | 44 seconds |
| How long does it take to read a 250 word script? | 1 minute 51 seconds |
| How long does it take to read a 500 word script? | 3 minutes 42 seconds |
| How long does it take to read a 750 word script? | 5 minutes 33 seconds |
| How long does it take to read a 1000 word script? | 7 minutes 24 seconds |
| How long does it take to read a 1500 word script? | 11 minutes 7 seconds |
| How long does it take to read a 2000 word script? | 14 minutes 39 seconds |
| How long does it take to read a 3000 word script? | 22 minutes 13 seconds |
| How long does it take to read a 5000 word script? | 37 minutes 2 seconds |
Speech Count
- Average person reads 3 words per second (range is 2 to 4)
- Average person reads 88 words per half-minute (range is 60 to 120)
- Average person reads 170 words per minute (range is 135 to 215)
- Average person reads 10,320 words per hour (range is 8,625 to 12,030)
Line Count
- Average number of lines per page: 21
- Average number of lines per 30-second spot: 7.5
- Average number of lines per 60-second spot: 15
Word Count
- Average words per line: 13 (range is 8 to 18)
- Average words per page: 273 (range is 168 to 378)
Reading Time
- Average reading time per line: 4 seconds
- Average reading time per page: 85 seconds
Frequently Asked Questions
According to the National Center for Voice and Speech, the average rate of conversational talk for an English-speaking adult in the US is around 120-150 words per minute (wpm). However, this can vary depending on a range of factors, such as the individual's native language, regional accent, tone, and the content and context of the script.
Typically, people can read much faster than they can speak. The average number of words read per minute is 200-300 words.
The average number of words read per minute can vary depending on factors such as the reader's reading proficiency, the complexity of the text, and the purpose of the reading. It can also be influenced by factors such as the font size and spacing of the text, the reader's familiarity with the topic, and the level of concentration they are able to maintain.
If you're wondering how to find out your speaking speed, we recommend taking the following steps:
- Choose a piece of text to read aloud: Select a passage of text that you are comfortable with, such as a paragraph from a book, a news article, or a script.
- Record yourself reading the text: Use a voice recording app or software to record yourself reading the text at your natural speaking pace. Be sure to speak clearly and enunciate each word.
- Time yourself: Use a stopwatch or timer to measure the duration of the recording. This will give you an idea of how long it takes you to read the text at your normal pace.
- Calculate your speaking speed: To calculate your speaking speed, divide the total number of words in the passage by the duration of the recording. This will give you the average number of words you speak per minute.
Assuming an average speaking speed of 125 to 150 words per minute, it would take approximately 6:30 to 8 minutes to speak 1,000 words.
However, it's important to note that this is just an estimate and actual speaking times may vary depending on the voice actor's individual speaking speed and the nature of the script. Additionally, creative direction and factors such as pauses and emphasis on certain words or phrases also affect the overall length of a read.
Assuming an average reading speed of 200-300 words per minute, it would take approximately 3:15 to 5 minutes to read 1,000 words.
It's important to keep in mind that this is just an estimate, and actual reading times may vary depending on the reader's individual reading speed and the complexity of the text.
The rates for each individual project vary based on the type of project and the size of the audience. Every project on Voices will have a suggested talent budget, which acts as a guideline for your quote. Visit our Rates page to learn more.