Video length and reading-speed calculator
Paste a script to see how long it takes to say and how many words fit common clip lengths. Then check your captions: paste one line or a whole SRT or VTT file to find any that flash by too fast to read.
Free, no sign-in, nothing to install.
How long will my script run?
- Spoken length
- 0:21
- Words
- 53
- Characters
- 297
| Clip length | Word budget | Your script |
|---|---|---|
| 15 seconds | 37 words | 16 words over |
| 30 seconds | 75 words | Fits |
| 1:00 | 150 words | Fits |
| 1:30 | 225 words | Fits |
| 3:00 | 450 words | Fits |
Most people speak 130 to 170 words a minute on camera. Time yourself reading one paragraph aloud for the most accurate number. YouTube Shorts can be up to 3 minutes long.
Are my captions readable?
Paste one caption and how long it's on screen, or paste a whole SRT or VTT file to check every caption. Reading speed is measured in characters per second, spaces included.
- Characters per second
- 15.1
- Verdict
- OK
At 17 characters per second this caption needs at least 3.1 seconds on screen.
How to use it
- 1Paste your script and pick your speaking pace.
- 2Check the word budget for the clip length you're aiming for, and trim if you're over.
- 3Paste a caption with its on-screen time, or a whole subtitle file.
- 4Fix any caption marked too fast: shorten it or keep it on screen longer.
Skip the busywork with Reeltopus
Reeltopus finds complete moments of the right length in your long videos and captions them at a readable pace, timed word by word to the audio.
The free plan includes 2 upload hours a month.
Try Reeltopus freeQuestions
How many words is a 60-second video?+
About 130 to 170 words at a normal on-camera pace, so 150 is a good target. A 30-second clip fits about 75 words, and a 15-second one about 35 to 40.
What is a good caption reading speed?+
Netflix's English subtitle guide allows up to 20 characters per second for adult content and 17 for children's. On a phone, with the viewer also watching the video, around 17 or fewer is comfortable.
Does it work for other languages?+
Yes. Words are counted with your browser's language-aware word splitter, so Chinese, Japanese and Thai count correctly. Speaking pace varies by language, so time yourself reading a paragraph and enter your own words per minute.
Is anything uploaded?+
No. Everything is calculated in your browser.
Let Reeltopus make the clips for you.
Join the waitlist for early access. The free plan includes 2 upload hours a month.