Podcast Episode Length Estimator
Turn a script's word count and your speaking pace into a run time, or add up your planned segments, so you can hit a target episode length before you press record.
Plan the length before you record
Episode length shapes everything from listener retention to how many ads fit and how long editing takes. Estimating it up front — from a script or from a rundown of segments — lets you cut or expand on the page instead of discovering a 45-minute episode was meant to be 25. Dial in your own words-per-minute rate once and the estimates get sharper every time.
Once you know the length, size the export with the Audio File Size Calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you estimate run time from a script?
Divide the word count by your speaking rate in words per minute. A 3,000-word script read at 150 words per minute comes to about 20 minutes. The tool returns the result as mm:ss so you can see it the way a media player would. It is an estimate of clean reading time, before pauses and edits.
What is a typical podcast speaking rate?
Conversational podcast delivery usually falls between about 130 and 160 words per minute. Fast, energetic hosts push higher; a measured, reflective style sits lower. If you have recorded before, divide a known word count by the actual minutes to find your own rate, then use that number here for a more accurate estimate.
Should I use the script mode or the segments mode?
Use the script mode when you have written or drafted the words and want to know how long they will take to read. Use the segments mode when you plan by rundown — an intro, two interview blocks, an ad, and an outro, each with a target length — and want the total. Many shows use both: segments to block out the episode, then a script check on the parts that are fully written.
Why is my finished episode longer than the estimate?
Because real delivery is not a steady read. Pauses, tangents, laughter, questions, ad reads, and re-takes all add time, while tight editing removes some. Treat the estimate as a planning target: if you need a 25-minute episode, aim your script or rundown a little under that and let natural delivery fill the gap.
Estimates only. Actual run time varies with your delivery, pauses, ad reads, and editing. Not professional production advice.