Paste your script, pick a speaking speed, and find out exactly how long the audio will be. Ideal for voiceovers, podcasts, YouTube scripts, and e-learning content.
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Slow (120 WPM)
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Normal (150 WPM)
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Fast (175 WPM)
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at 1x speed (150 WPM)
A script to audio time calculator estimates how long your written text will be when spoken aloud or converted to audio. It takes your word count and divides it by a speaking rate (measured in words per minute) to produce a duration estimate in minutes and seconds. This is an essential planning tool for anyone who creates audio content — voiceover artists, podcast hosts, video creators, and e-learning designers all need to know how long their scripts will run.
Our calculator goes beyond basic estimation. It shows durations at three preset speaking speeds (slow, normal, and fast) and lets you pick a specific SpeakLucid voice speed from 0.5x to 2x. This gives you precise control when planning audio content that needs to fit a specific time slot.
Paste your script into the text area above. The calculator immediately shows the word count, character count, and estimated audio duration at three standard speaking speeds. Below that, use the SpeakLucid speed selector to see how the duration changes at specific playback rates. If you are planning to generate audio at 1.25x speed on SpeakLucid, click that button to see the adjusted estimate.
Here are some quick reference points at normal speaking speed (150 WPM):
These figures are based on a conversational pace. Fast narration at 175 WPM would shorten these by about 15%, while a slow, deliberate pace at 120 WPM would extend them by about 25%.
Many content formats have ideal length targets. YouTube videos under 10 minutes are popular for tutorial content, which means scripts around 1,400 words. Podcast episodes are commonly 20-45 minutes, requiring 3,000-6,700 words. TikTok voiceovers need to be under 60 seconds (roughly 150 words). E-learning modules typically target 5-10 minute chunks, meaning 750-1,500 words per module.
By using this calculator during the scripting phase, you can write to your target duration rather than trimming or padding after recording. This saves significant editing time and produces better-paced content. With SpeakLucid, you can generate audio from your script instantly — paste the text, choose one of 17 AI voices, adjust the speed, and download the MP3.
The estimate is based on industry-standard speaking rates (120-175 WPM) and is generally accurate within 5-10% for natural speech. Factors like pauses between sentences, emphasis on certain words, and the complexity of the text can slightly affect actual duration. TTS engines like SpeakLucid are very consistent, so the estimate is especially accurate for generated audio.
For most content, Normal (150 WPM) works well. Use Slow (120 WPM) for meditative content, educational material for children, or dramatic narration. Use Fast (175 WPM) for news-style delivery or energetic marketing content. With SpeakLucid, you can fine-tune the speed from 0.5x to 2x after generating.
SpeakLucid lets you adjust voice speed from 0.5x (half speed) to 2x (double speed). The calculator shows how this multiplier affects the audio duration. At 1.0x (default), a 150 WPM base speed is used. At 0.5x, the effective speed drops to 75 WPM, making the audio twice as long. At 2.0x, it jumps to 300 WPM, cutting duration in half.
A 10-minute podcast episode is typically 1,400-1,600 words at normal speed. A 30-minute episode requires about 4,200-4,800 words. A full hour-long episode needs 8,500-10,000 words. Use this calculator to find the exact word count you need for your target episode length.