How Many Words In A 60 Second Script

People who write the script for their animated video frequently ask us: How many words in a 60 second script?

In this article we’ll explain how many words should be in your 60 second script along with considerations for why you may want to increase or decrease that number. At the end, we share some guides, resources and templates to help you write your video script.

How many words are in a 60 second script?

For most English-based video scripts, you should aim for 120-180 words in a 60 second script.

The average 60 second script has 150 words in it – which is a natural speaking rate of 2.5 words per second.

It is possible to get up to 180 words in a 60 second script, but the voiceover will be on the cusp of sounding rushed. Additionally, if you’re maximizing the number of words in your 60 second script, it doesn’t allow any time to vary the pacing of your voiceover – or to insert dramatic pauses.

This is why we recommend people make their scripts 120-150 words long. That way, we have some flexibility in the presentation to allow for special moments of your video to sink in with the viewer.

How many words in a 60 second script for other languages?

Some languages take more or less time to say something when you translate the script from English. With that in mind, if you are translating your animated video in multiple languages, it’s important to develop a script that can use the same timing as the original video. Otherwise, if you translate your script and it is notably longer or shorter than your existing voiceover, it will generate increased costs for the animation team to modify the timing of your animation to match the length of the new voiceover.

Here’s an example: Spanish text is about 20% longer than English. Therefore, if you want your English and Spanish voiceovers to be approximately the same length, make your English script 20% shorter than the average. 150 words = the average word count for a 60 second English-based animated video. Removing 20% of the word count gets you to 120 words for the English voiceover. When you translate the script into Spanish, the voiceover will be approximately 60 seconds long.

Factors That Influence Your Optimal Word Count

While the “150 words per minute” rule is a great baseline, it is not a one-size-fits-all law. The “perfect” word count for your specific 60-second video depends heavily on three key variables: Tone, Complexity, and Visual Density.

1. Tone and Emotion

The emotional goal of your video dictates the speed of the voiceover.

• High-Energy/Retail (160–180 words): If you are creating a hype video for a clearance sale, a fast-paced software demo, or a high-octane app launch, you can push the upper limits of the word count. Fast talking conveys excitement and urgency.
• Standard Explainer (140–150 words): This is the sweet spot for most B2B and B2C marketing videos. It feels conversational, friendly, and clear.
• Solemn/Inspirational (110–130 words): If your video is about a serious topic (like healthcare), a luxury brand, or a charitable cause, you need to slow down. A lower word count allows for “dramatic pauses”—moments of silence that let the weight of the message sink in.

2. Information Complexity

Are you explaining quantum physics or selling socks? If your script contains complex industry jargon, technical statistics, or multi-step instructions, you must lower your word count. When a viewer hears a complex term, their brain needs a split second to process it. If the voiceover immediately rushes to the next sentence, the viewer gets left behind. For technical scripts, aim for 130 words to ensure comprehension.

3. Visual Density

One of the most common mistakes in scriptwriting is forgetting about the visuals. If your video is going to feature complex on-screen charts, detailed software interfaces, or kinetic typography that the viewer needs to read, you cannot have a wall-to-wall voiceover. You need to leave “visual breathing room.” If the screen says one thing and the voiceover says another simultaneously, the viewer will absorb neither. If your visuals are dense, drop your word count to 125 wordsto allow time for the animation to do the talking.

The “Stopwatch Test”: How to accurately time your script

Simply counting words isn’t always accurate because some words take longer to say than others. “Animation” takes much longer to say than “Art,” even though both count as one word. To ensure your script fits a 60-second timeline, you must perform a proper “Stopwatch Test.”

Do Not Read in Your Head

This is the golden rule. When you read silently, your internal monologue is significantly faster than your physical mouth. You will always underestimate the time.

The “Announcer Voice” Technique

When you time yourself, do not mumble. Stand up, project your voice, and act it out with the intended emotion. If the script is meant to be energetic, shout it out. If it’s serious, speak slowly and deliberately.

1. Open a stopwatch app on your phone.
2. Read the script aloud at your intended pace.
3. Act out the pauses. If the script says [Pause for effect], actually sit in silence for two seconds.
4. Check the time.
5. Add a 10% buffer. Professional voiceover artists usually speak slightly slower and more clearly than you do during a casual read-through. If you clock in at 58 seconds, you are likely already too long. Aim for a read-through of 50–55 seconds to be safe.

Tips for Trimming a Bloated Script

It is easier to write a long script than a short one. As the famous quote goes, “I would have written a shorter letter, but I did not have the time.” If your first draft is 200 words (approx. 80 seconds) and you need to cut it down to 60 seconds without losing the message, use these editing techniques:

1. Remove “Crutch” Words

Scan your script for words that add volume but not value. Words like “really,” “very,” “just,” “actually,” and “basically” can almost always be deleted without changing the meaning of the sentence.

• Bloated: “We are actually really proud to introduce our very new platform.” (11 words)
• Trimmed: “We’re proud to introduce our new platform.” (7 words)

2. Convert Passive Voice to Active Voice

Passive voice is not only weaker persuasively; it is also wordier. Active voice is punchy, direct, and saves precious seconds.

• Passive: “The reports are automatically generated by the system every day.” (10 words)
• Active: “The system auto-generates daily reports.” (5 words)
• Savings: You just saved 2-3 seconds of voiceover time with one sentence tweak.

3. Let the Visuals Do the Work

If you are making an animated video, you don’t need to say what the viewer is seeing. This is a classic “Show, Don’t Tell” scenario.

• Audio: “Our dashboard shows you a green chart when sales are up and a red chart when sales are down.”
• Correction: Cut that sentence entirely. Instead, have the Voiceover say, “Track sales trends instantly,” while the animation shows the green and red charts.

Why 60 Seconds? The Importance of Platform Limits

Sticking to a strict 60-second word count isn’t just about attention spans; nowadays, it’s often a technical requirement.

• YouTube Shorts & Instagram Reels: These platforms often have hard cut-offs or algorithmic preferences for content under 60 seconds. If your script runs 61 seconds, you might be forced to loop your video awkwardly or get cut off mid-sentence.
• TV Commercial Slots: If you plan to broadcast your explainer video, media buys are sold in strict 15, 30, and 60-second blocks. A 62-second video is useless for TV without expensive editing.
• The “Drop-Off” Cliff: Analytics data from millions of videos shows that viewer retention drops significantly after the one-minute mark. Keeping your script tight ensures you deliver your Call to Action (CTA) before the viewer scrolls away.

Formatting Your Script for Better Timing

Believe it or not, the way you format your document can help you manage your word count and timing better.

• Use a 2-Column Layout: Put your audio/dialogue in the right column and your visual description in the left column. This helps you visualize how much visual action is required for each sentence.
• Break it into Scenes: Don’t write a wall of text. Break your script into small “scenes” or paragraphs. A generally safe rule of thumb is that one short paragraph equals about 10–15 seconds of video. If you have more than 4–5 paragraphs, you are likely over the 60-second limit.
• Phonetic Spelling: If your script includes difficult names or acronyms, write them out phonetically (e.g., “SaaS” vs “S-A-A-S”). Acronyms read as individual letters take longer to say than words, which can throw off your word count calculations.

How To Write A 60 Second Script?

Download our free script writing template and check out these resources to help you learn how to write a 60 second script:

How To Write An Animated Video Script?

Tips To Improve Your Video Script Writing.

Examples of Explainer Video Scripts & How To Write A Script.

Still have questions about how many words should be in a 60 second script?

Do you have a question about how many words should be in a 60 second script that wasn’t addressed in this FAQ? Use this form to send us your question and we’ll follow up with an answer. We’ll also post the question and answer to this page so other people can benefit from the knowledge.

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