Use this free video length calculator to add up multiple video clip durations and see the total runtime. Ideal for YouTubers and video editors who want to plan their final video length before starting the edit — enter as many clips as you need.
Video length affects ad revenue, audience retention, algorithm performance, and how much editing work you're taking on per video. A YouTube video over 8 minutes qualifies for mid-roll ads. A TikTok over a minute triggers different payout rates. Knowing the target length before you start scripting helps you plan content that hits those marks rather than discovering you're 3 minutes short after you've already filmed.
Enter your script word count, your speaking pace, or your target video length and this tool calculates the corresponding figures. Use it to plan scripts, estimate filming time, and check whether your content hits platform-specific length milestones.
Step 1 — Enter your word count or speaking pace. If you've already written your script, enter the word count. If you're planning from a target length, enter the minutes you want and get the word count you need to script. The tool converts in both directions.
Step 2 — Account for non-scripted segments. A script timer tells you how long the words take. If your video includes significant B-roll sequences, screen recordings, or visual demonstrations, your final video will be longer than the script alone suggests. Add those estimated segments separately.
Step 3 — Check against your target platform. Note whether the calculated length hits any relevant milestones — over 8 minutes for YouTube mid-roll ads, over 1 minute for TikTok creator rewards. Adjust your script if you're close to a meaningful threshold.
Planning the perfect length and then not checking the actual edit. A script might calculate to 9 minutes but the final edit comes in at 7:40 because you trimmed sections or removed pauses. The calculator is a planning tool, not a guarantee. Always check your actual edit length before publishing if a specific length matters for your strategy.
Padding a video just to hit the 8-minute mark. If your content is genuinely complete at 6 minutes, padding it to 8 minutes to qualify for mid-roll ads hurts audience retention. A video with 60% retention is worth more algorithmically than one with 35% retention, even if the shorter one has fewer ad slots.
Not considering your audience when choosing video length. Different audiences have different preferences. A developer tutorial audience expects long, detailed content. A fitness audience often prefers shorter, actionable videos. Before targeting a specific length, check what length your own analytics show performs best.
YouTube enables mid-roll ads on videos that are at least 8 minutes long. These are the additional ad placements that appear during the video rather than just at the start. If revenue is a priority and your topic supports it, targeting just over 8 minutes is a common strategy.
There's no single answer — it depends on your content type, audience, and niche. Generally, educational and tutorial content performs well at 8-15 minutes. Entertainment content can be shorter. Long-form content (20-30 minutes) works for in-depth topics with engaged audiences.
TikTok videos can now be up to 10 minutes long, but shorter videos (15-60 seconds) still tend to get the highest completion rates, which drives the algorithm. For TikTok, prioritise high completion rates over length unless you're specifically creating longer-form series content.
Not necessarily. Total watch time is the number of views multiplied by the average watch duration. A shorter video with high completion rates can generate more total watch time than a longer video with low completion rates. Audience retention percentage is often more important than absolute length.
Video length directly affects watch time, which is YouTube's primary ranking signal. A 15-minute video with 70% retention outperforms a 5-minute video with 40% retention in YouTube's algorithm. Planning your video length before editing helps you target the right duration for your niche and audience expectations.