Word counter that times your script.
Words, characters, sentences and paragraphs as you type, plus how long it takes to say out loud, whether it fits in a Short, and how much room you have left on YouTube, Instagram, TikTok and X.
Speaking pace
Most talking-head YouTube and podcasts
Fits in a Short?
Fits, with about 20 s to spare.
Character limits as of October 2026, counted the way you see characters. Platforms change these, so check the app if you are right at the edge.
- YouTube Title506 / 100406 over
- YouTube Description506 / 5,0004,494 left
- Instagram Caption506 / 2,2001,694 left
- Instagram Bio506 / 150356 over
- TikTok Caption506 / 4,0003,494 left
- X Post (free account)506 / 280226 over
- LinkedIn Post506 / 3,0002,494 left
- Threads Post506 / 5006 over
- Pinterest Pin description506 / 5006 over
Planning a video from a target length instead? The YouTube script timer turns minutes into a word budget for the hook, body and call to action.
Script done? Shinel Studios edits it into a finished YouTube video or a batch of Shorts, with captions and a hook that holds.
How to use the word counter for a script
- Paste or type your text. Paste a script, caption, essay or description into the box. Counts update as you type, and the draft is saved in this browser.
- Pick a speaking pace. Choose Calm (130 words a minute), Normal (150), Fast YouTube (170) or Shorts hook (190), or set your own pace with the slider.
- Check the Short meter. Pick a target length such as 60 seconds. The meter shows whether the script fits when read at your pace.
- Check platform limits. See how many characters you have left for a YouTube title or description, an Instagram caption or bio, a TikTok caption, an X post and more.
- Tighten long sentences. Open Script view. Sentences over 20 words are marked amber and over 30 red, so you can split them before you record.
How long is my script when spoken?
Divide the word count by your speaking pace. At a normal 150 words a minute, a 300-word script runs about 2 minutes, a 1,500-word script about 10. Most people speak more slowly on camera than they think, and edits add pauses for b-roll and on-screen text, so treat the number as the length before editing.
| Words | 130 wpm | 150 wpm | 170 wpm | 190 wpm |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 150 | 1:09 | 1:00 | 0:53 | 0:47 |
| 300 | 2:18 | 2:00 | 1:46 | 1:35 |
| 500 | 3:51 | 3:20 | 2:56 | 2:38 |
| 1,000 | 7:42 | 6:40 | 5:53 | 5:16 |
| 1,500 | 11:32 | 10:00 | 8:49 | 7:54 |
| 2,000 | 15:23 | 13:20 | 11:46 | 10:32 |
Word count vs character count
Essays and articles are usually briefed in words. Social platforms limit characters: a YouTube title stops at 100, an Instagram bio at 150. For video, neither matters as much as time on screen, which is why the speaking time sits next to the count. Pair this with the title generator to keep titles inside the limit.
Frequently asked questions
How does this word counter count words?
A word is any run of letters or numbers, so "don't" and "behind-the-scenes" each count as one word. Punctuation, emojis and extra spaces are not words. Hindi and other languages written with spaces between words are counted the same way.
Does the character count include spaces?
The tool shows both: characters with spaces, which is what YouTube, Instagram, TikTok and X count against their limits, and characters without spaces, which some school and publishing briefs ask for. An emoji or a Hindi conjunct counts as one character, the way you see it.
How many words is a 1 minute speech or video?
About 150 words at a normal speaking pace. A calm, clear explainer is closer to 130 words a minute and an energetic YouTube delivery around 170. Pick your pace in the tool, or time yourself reading a paragraph aloud and set the slider to match.
How many words fit in a 60 second YouTube Short?
Roughly 130 to 190 words, depending on how fast you speak. Most Shorts land between 140 and 170 words for a full 60 seconds, but leave room for pauses and on-screen moments. Since October 2024 YouTube Shorts can be up to 3 minutes long, which is why the meter also offers 90 seconds and 3 minutes.
How is reading time calculated?
Reading time uses 238 words a minute, the average silent reading speed for English non-fiction found in a 2019 review of 190 studies by psychologist Marc Brysbaert. Speaking time uses the pace you pick, because people read aloud far slower than they read silently.
What is keyword density and what should it be?
Keyword density is how often a word or phrase appears as a share of all words. There is no ideal percentage. Use it to spot a word you repeat too often, or to check your main topic actually appears in a description. Write for people first: stuffing a keyword reads badly and can count as spam.
What are the character limits on YouTube, Instagram, TikTok and X?
As of October 2026: YouTube titles 100 characters and descriptions 5,000; Instagram captions 2,200 and bios 150; TikTok captions 4,000; X posts 280 on a free account; LinkedIn posts 3,000; Threads posts 500. Platforms change these, so check the app if you are right at the limit. X also counts every link as 23 characters.
Is my text saved or uploaded anywhere?
No upload. Everything is counted in your browser. The draft is saved only in this browser's local storage so it is still there if you close the tab, and Clear removes it.
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