Text-to-Speech Time Calculator
Spoken Delivery Runs Slower Than Silent Reading
A script that reads quickly on the page can run long once spoken aloud — natural speech moves at a noticeably slower pace than silent reading, since a speaker has to actually pronounce every word rather than skim it. Podcast scripts, video voiceovers, presentation notes, and audiobook manuscripts all need a time estimate based on speaking pace, not reading pace, to hit a target runtime.
The Formula
The default speaking rate is 150 words per minute, a commonly cited average for natural, conversational spoken English — noticeably slower than the 225 wpm typically used for silent reading. Faster narrators, or slower deliberate delivery styles, can be modeled by adjusting the rate.
Where This Matters
- Podcast and video scripting — writing to a target episode length requires knowing roughly how many words fit into that runtime at a natural speaking pace.
- Voiceover and narration timing — matching a script's spoken length to a video's visual pacing avoids either padding silence or rushing the narration.
- Presentation rehearsal — estimating speech time for prepared remarks helps avoid running over a strict time slot.
Estimated Speech Time by Word Count
| Word count | Speech duration |
|---|---|
| 300 words | 2.00 min |
| 600 words | 4.00 min |
| 1,000 words | 6.67 min |
| 2,000 words | 13.33 min |
How to Use This Calculator
- Paste or type your text into the text box.
- Optionally adjust Speaking Rate in words per minute (defaults to 150).
- Select Calculate to see the estimated speech duration in minutes and seconds.
Related Calculations
For silent reading time instead, use the Reading Time Calculator, or check the underlying word and sentence counts with the Word Counter.