Short-video read-aloud duration estimator
Choose the counting unit, enter a rate from your own rehearsal and add planned silent time. The estimate is counted units ÷ units per minute × 60, plus pauses. Replace the starting rate with the pace appropriate to the actual speaker and text.
Choose a compatible rate
| Counting mode | What is counted | Rate to enter |
|---|---|---|
| English word units | Word-like segments, excluding punctuation-only segments | Measured English word units per minute |
| Visible characters | Grapheme clusters excluding whitespace; punctuation remains included | Measured units using that same counting rule |
| Extra pauses | Silent time added separately | Seconds, not words or characters |
Worked timing example
Ten counted word units at an assumed rate of 120 units per minute take 5 seconds. Add 2 seconds of planned pauses and the estimate becomes 7 seconds. These are illustrative inputs, not a recommended pace for every speaker.
For another language or mixed text, choose a counting rule and rate that match. Do not combine a character count with a word-per-minute assumption. Read the completed wording aloud to check names, numbers, emphasis and transitions.
This estimates the spoken segment plus entered pauses. A complete video can include other non-spoken material or overlapping actions. Use the storyboard and an actual rehearsal to set the final scene lengths.
Before filming
- Replace all placeholder wording.
- Measure the speaker's actual pace with the same counting unit.
- Include deliberate pauses separately.
- Check whether the scene leaves enough time for the relevant action.