Loading page
About this tool
Find how many words fit a 15, 30 or 60 second voiceover slot at your reading pace, after breath and tag allowances.
This calculator converts a voiceover slot length into a word count using the words-per-minute model: words = speaking seconds × wpm ÷ 60. It subtracts the seconds you reserve for breaths, beats and an end tag first, so the number you get is the copy that will actually fit on air. Copywriters, radio producers and e-learning narrators use it to size a draft before it reaches the booth.
Open Voiceover Word Budget Calculator on AltFTool — it loads instantly in your browser.
Enter the values you already know.
Fine-tune the options to match your scenario.
Read the result and use it in your planning or reporting.
Breaths and end tags come off the slot before the word budget is worked out.
Paste the script and see the over/under in words and in seconds.
Shows the words-per-minute you would need to fit the copy as written.
About 75 words at a conversational broadcast pace of 150 words per minute, since 30 × 150 ÷ 60 = 75. Reserve 2-3 seconds for breaths or an end tag and the practical budget drops to roughly 65-70 words.
Around 150 words per minute for a natural conversational read. Slow narration and e-learning sit near 110-135 wpm, upbeat retail promos near 170 wpm, and legal disclaimers are often delivered at 190-200 wpm or faster.
Roughly 150 words at 150 wpm with no pauses reserved. Most 60-second commercials land between 130 and 160 words once breaths, a beat before the call to action and a closing tag are allowed for.
Word count ignores how long individual words take. Numbers, URLs, product names and legal phrasing take far longer per word than plain copy, and directed pauses add seconds that no word count captures. Time a rehearsal read against a stopwatch to confirm.
Add the Voiceover Word Budget Calculatorwidget to your blog or website — free, responsive, no signup. Just keep the “Widget by AltFTool” credit link visible.
<iframe src="https://www.altftool.com/embed/widget/voiceover-word-budget-calculator"
title="Voiceover Word Budget Calculator — free AltFTool widget"
width="100%" height="640" style="border:0;border-radius:12px;overflow:hidden"
loading="lazy" referrerpolicy="no-referrer-when-downgrade"></iframe>
<p style="font-size:12px;margin:4px 0 0">Widget by <a href="https://www.altftool.com/tools/all/voiceover-word-budget-calculator?utm_source=embed&utm_medium=widget">AltFTool — free online tools</a></p>