Free tool
YouTube script length calculator
At an average narration pace of 150 words a minute, an 8-minute video needs about 1,200 words. Paste your script to see how long yours runs read aloud, how far it is from 8 minutes, and what one video that long costs to make.
Last updated 28 October 2026
At 150 words a minute, an 8-minute video needs about 1,200 words.
Words for each video length
| Video length | Slow and clear (130 wpm) | Average narration (150 wpm) | Fast, energetic (170 wpm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 minute | 130 words | 150 words | 170 words |
| 3 minutes | 390 words | 450 words | 510 words |
| 5 minutes | 650 words | 750 words | 850 words |
| 8 minutes | 1,040 words | 1,200 words | 1,360 words |
| 10 minutes | 1,300 words | 1,500 words | 1,700 words |
| 15 minutes | 1,950 words | 2,250 words | 2,550 words |
| 20 minutes | 2,600 words | 3,000 words | 3,400 words |
How it counts
- Length is words divided by the pace, rounded up to the second. Pauses between sections add a few seconds a minute, so read a paragraph aloud and time it if the exact length matters.
- Words are runs of letters or numbers; a hyphenated word or a contraction counts once. A number such as 1987 counts as one word, though it is read as three.
- Costs are the least each tool takes for one video that long, with no annual commitment. Alpy's are from its pricing page; Crreo and Pictory's were read from their own pricing pages on 28 October 2026 (Crreo, Pictory), monthly billing, US dollars before tax. Tools that price in credits are left out rather than guessed.
- Yes, this is Alpy's site. If a price here is out of date, write to hello@tryalpy.com and we will re-check it.
Questions
- How many words is an 8-minute YouTube video?
- About 1,200 words at an average narration pace of 150 words a minute; 1,040 read slowly (130) and 1,360 read fast (170).
- How many words a minute do YouTube narrators read?
- Most narration falls between 130 and 170 words a minute. Calm explainers sit near 140, energetic channels near 170. Time yourself reading one paragraph aloud and use that pace.
- Why does 8 minutes matter on YouTube?
- YouTube lets a video of 8 minutes or more carry ads in the middle (mid-rolls), not only before and after, so many faceless channels aim for 8 minutes or a little over.
- Does the calculator keep my script?
- No. The count runs in your browser; the script is not sent anywhere.
Turn the script into a video
Alpy draws a scene for everything you say, read in your own voice or an AI voice, and gives you a finished 16:9 video with a title, description and thumbnail. Setting up a video is free, and you see the price before you pay.
Make a video from your script →