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Voiceover length checker
Paste your narration, one line per phrase, and see how long it will take to say, and whether it fits the film.
Your narration
The speed is a planning guess. Read a line aloud, time it, and enter your own speed for a better estimate.
The result
| Line | Words | Seconds |
|---|
Count the words in your narration, divide by how many words a minute you speak, and add a short pause between lines. If that total is longer than the film, cut words. The checker does this for each line and tells you how far over or under you are.
Narration is often written first and timed last, and by then the words are fixed and the film is cut. It is much cheaper to check the length while you write. A line that is too long can be shortened in a minute. A film that is cut to fit a voice that has already been recorded is a far bigger job.
Paste the narration here, one line per phrase, and enter the length of the film. The checker counts the words in each line, works out how long each one takes to say at the speed you choose, and adds a short pause between lines. It shows the total and whether the narration fits the film, and by how much.
The speaking speed is your choice
People speak at different speeds, and a calm narration is slower than an excited one. The default speed in this checker is a planning guess, set as a starting point. It is not a measured figure for any one voice. To set your own speed, read a line of your script aloud at the pace you want, time it with a stopwatch, and divide the number of words by the seconds, then multiply by sixty. Type that number in, and the estimate follows your voice.
Because the speed is yours, the result is an estimate. Always record a short test with the voice you will use, then check its real length in your editor. The estimate is there to catch a line that is clearly too long before you record anything.
Pauses matter as much as words
Narration needs room to breathe. A film with no pauses sounds rushed, even when the words fit. Each line here gets a pause after it, which you can change. Shorter pauses fit more words, but feel more hurried. Longer pauses give the viewer time to read on-screen text, which matters for product films, where the screen is often busier than the voice.
What to do when the narration is too long
Cut the words that repeat what the picture already shows. Keep the one fact a viewer must remember and drop the rest. If a line is still long, split it, so the voice can take a breath halfway. If the whole script is far too long, the film is probably too short for what you want to say, so change the length or the message before you change the speed.
Before you record, it also helps to plan the whole film. The guide to writing a product launch video script shows a simple structure. The video file size estimator helps you check the export size once the film is made, and the launch video script builder lays out the scenes so the narration has a place to go.
undefinedHow to use it
- Write one phrase per line. Paste the narration with a line break between phrases, the way the voice will say them.
- Set your speaking speed. Keep the default, or enter the speed you measured by reading a line aloud and timing it.
- Enter the film length. Type the length of the film in seconds, so the checker can say whether the narration fits.
- Cut or split the long lines. Shorten any line that takes more time than the picture allows, then check again until the total fits.
Frequently asked questions
How many words a minute should I plan for a voiceover?
There is no single right number, because people speak at different speeds, and a calm narration is slower than an excited one. The checker starts at a planning guess that you can change. For a real figure, read a line aloud, time it, and divide the words by the seconds, then multiply by sixty.
Why does the checker add a pause after each line?
Narration needs room to breathe, and product films often have on-screen text that the viewer needs time to read. The pause is a setting you can change. A shorter pause fits more words, while a longer one gives the picture room.
Is the estimate exact?
No. It is a planning tool that works from the words and the speed you enter. Record a short test with the voice you will use, then check its real length in your editor before you finish the film.
What if my narration is too long for the film?
Cut the words that repeat what the picture shows, keep the one fact the viewer must remember, and split long lines. If the script still does not fit, the film may be too short for the message, so change its length or the message before you change the speed.
Is my narration stored?
No. The count runs in your browser, and nothing you type is sent to us. The result is only on your screen until you copy it or close the page.
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