FAQ / How long should an explainer voiceover be
How long should an explainer video voiceover be?
For most explainer videos, aim for a 60 to 90 second voiceover. That is roughly 150 to 230 words at a comfortable conversational pace. Longer than two minutes and viewer drop-off climbs sharply.
Words per minute is your real budget
A relaxed conversational pace is about 150 words per minute. A tight, energetic explainer can sit closer to 170. If your script is 300 words and you want a 90-second video, you are committing to 200 wpm, which is fast. Either trim the script or accept the brisk pace before you record.
Common formats and their target lengths
- 15-second ad: 35 to 40 words. Hook, promise, CTA. That is it.
- 30-second ad: 70 to 80 words. Hook, problem, payoff, CTA.
- 60-second explainer: 140 to 160 words. Standard for a homepage hero or social ad.
- 90-second explainer: 220 to 240 words. The sweet spot for a feature walkthrough.
- 2 minute explainer: 280 to 320 words. Use this when there is genuine product depth to cover.
- 3+ minute explainer: only when the audience has already opted in. For cold-traffic landing pages, you have probably lost most viewers before the third minute.
Cut by paragraph, not by sentence
Once you import the script into VoiceOverAndOver, every paragraph becomes its own row with its own recorded duration. The merge screen shows you the total. If you are over budget, delete a whole paragraph rather than trim individual sentences. You will sound less rushed and the structure stays clean.
Record at your natural pace first. Look at the per-paragraph durations on the merge screen. If the total runs long, that is data: delete the lowest-value paragraph and remerge. Adjust by content, not by squeezing your delivery.
Leave room for breath and visuals
An explainer voiceover never plays straight through with zero gaps. Music ducks under, b-roll lingers, the title card holds for a beat. Budget 5 to 10 percent of your runtime for moments where the voice is not talking. If the video is 60 seconds, your voiceover should clock around 54 to 57.