Words to Time Calculator

This word-to-time tool helps voice actors compare their speaking rate to the script that is associated with the job that they are responding to, or are completing. Understanding how many words per minute you speak will help you estimate how long it will take you to read the script, which in turn helps inform how long it will take you to complete the job and helps determine a fair price for the job.

In order to assess how fast you are delivering your voice acting performance, you can use a timer as you read your lines. Time it for one minute and see how many words you read out loud. When it comes to the number of words each of us speaks per minute, the flow is as individual as you are. There are many things to take into account, such as what the script requires. For instance, is the character you’re playing speaking in a laid back drawl or are they using an announcer read? The number of words you speak per minute may vary based on these stylistic decisions.

According to the National Center for Voice and Speech, the average rate of conversational talk in the US is around 150 words per minute (wpm). This means that when you come across a script with a ‘conversational voice’ listed, you might expect that the rate of speech will fall somewhat in line with this guideline. But it is always helpful to try out your reading rate with different styles of reads to discover how your voice may behave differently under different demands.