Script Timer for Radios
This free radio script timer tells you if your copy fits your slot. Paste your script. Pick a spot length. Get the answer in seconds. No sign-up. No cost. Works on any device.
Word Frequency
Why Use This Radio Script Timer
Radio spots run on tight time slots. A :30 ad must fit in 30 seconds. Not 31. Not 28. When a spot runs long, the station cuts it off. When a spot runs short, you get dead air. Both are bad.
This free radio script timer solves that problem. Paste your copy. Pick your slot length. The tool shows you if the script fits, runs long, or runs short. It also tells you how many words to add or cut to hit the target.
The tool is built for radio. The reading speeds match how real voice actors read spots in a booth. The slot lengths match real radio ad slots like :10, :15, :30, :60, :90, and :120. You get answers that work for radio, not a general guess.
How to Use the Radio Script Timer
Using the tool takes three steps.
Step 1: Paste your script. Put your radio copy in the box on the left. You can also type a word count if you do not have the script yet. For example, type “80” to see how long 80 words would take to read.
Step 2: Pick your delivery style. Choose how the spot will be read. Pick Commercial Read for most ads. Pick Imaging or Promo for station promos. Pick Legal or Disclaimer for the fast legal part at the end of ads. Each style uses a different reading speed.
Step 3: Pick your spot length. Click the slot you need, such as :30 or :60. You can also type a custom number of seconds for odd lengths. The tool will tell you right away if your copy fits.
That is it. No setup, no login, no waiting.
What You Get
After you paste your script, the tool shows you four things at once:
- Read Time. How long it takes to read the copy at the delivery speed you picked.
- Word Count. The total number of words in the script.
- Character Count. The total number of letters and spaces.
- Fit Check. A simple answer on whether the script fits your slot.
The fit check is the part most radio writers love. It does not just show a number. It tells you what to do next.
If your script runs long, the tool says “You will get clipped” and tells you how many words to cut. If your script runs just right, the tool says “Good for air.” If your script is a bit short, the tool says “Pad with music bed.” If your script is way too short, the tool warns about dead air and tells you how many words to add.
Radio Spot Lengths Made Easy
The tool has six spot length buttons that match the slots you write against:
- :10 works for sponsor tags and short bumpers.
- :15 works for short ads and promo fillers.
- :30 works for most radio ads. This is the most common slot.
- :60 works for full length ads and storytelling spots.
- :90 works for longer PSAs and deep brand spots.
- :120 works for two minute features.
Need a size that is not on the list? Use the custom seconds box. Type any number from 1 to 600. The tool handles it the same way.
Reading Speeds That Match Real Radio
Most free timers use one reading speed for everything. That does not work for radio. A live DJ read is slower than a promo. A legal tag is much faster than a normal ad.
This tool gives you six reading styles, each with a speed that matches real radio:
- Commercial Read at 160 words per minute. The main pace for most paid ads.
- Imaging or Promo at 175 words per minute. The faster pace for station promos and IDs.
- DJ or Live Read at 150 words per minute. The pace for on air talent reading live.
- News Reader at 150 words per minute. The pace for news and news promos.
- PSA at 145 words per minute. A slower pace for public service ads.
- Legal or Disclaimer at 240 words per minute. The fast pace for legal tags.
If your voice actor reads faster or slower than the preset, use the slider to fine tune the speed.
Voice Actor Breathing Pauses
Real voice actors pause to breathe. They slow down at the end of sentences. They pause after commas. Most timers ignore this, which is why your :30 script often comes back from the booth at :33.
Turn on the VO breath option to fix this. The tool will add small pauses for sentence breaks and commas. You get a more accurate read time before the script even goes to the booth.
Add Pauses Right in the Script
Radio scripts often mark pauses in the copy. You can do the same in this tool. Type [pause] for a one second pause. Type [beat] for a half second pause. Type [long pause] for a two second pause. Type [2s] for any exact number of seconds.
The tool adds the pause time to your read time. It also leaves the markers out of your word count. You can mark up a script the same way you would for production and still get a correct time.
Check Word Frequency
The word frequency panel shows which words and phrases show up most in your script. This helps you in two ways.
First, you can check if the brand name or product shows up enough. For many radio ads, the client wants the brand name said three times in a :30 spot. The word frequency panel makes that easy to check.
Second, you can check for filler. If the same word shows up too often, you can swap it out and make the script sound more natural.
Who This Tool Is For
This radio script timer helps:
- Copywriters writing radio ads for clients
- Agency producers checking spot length before booth sessions
- Station imaging writers making promos and IDs
- Voice actors doing pre read timing checks
- News writers timing news copy
- Marketing teams planning radio campaigns
- Students learning radio copywriting
If you write words that will be read on air, this tool saves you time.
Free, Fast, and Private
The tool is free. There is no sign up. There is no account. There are no ads inside the tool. Your script never leaves your browser. Nothing is saved. Nothing is shared. Close the tab and your script is gone.