Free Film & Video Tool · Calculator
Screenplay Runtime Estimator
Estimate screen time from a script's page count using the one-page-per-minute convention, with an adjustable minutes-per-page assumption and planning range.
Deterministic maths that runs entirely in your browser — no AI model, no uploads, no account. Formulas and assumptions are explained below the calculator.
Inputs
Results update as you type.
Correctly formatted pages; eighths are fine (e.g. 95 3/8).
The convention is about 1. Adjust if you know your pace, e.g. from a previous cut.
An adjustable planning margin, not a statistical prediction.
Results
Estimated runtime
1 h 40 min
100 pages at 1 min/page
Planning range
1 h 20 min – 2 h
±20%
Dialogue-heavy pages often play faster than a minute; dense action or long silent sequences can play slower. Use this for early scheduling and budgeting, then replace it with a timed read-through or an assembly edit.
How it works
Screenwriters, producers and schedulers often need a quick sense of how long a script will play. The common convention is that one page in standard screenplay format runs about a minute on screen; this tool applies it, lets you change the assumption, and shows a planning range rather than false precision.
The formula
- Estimated runtime = pages × minutes per page (default 1)
- Planning range = estimate × (1 ± range %) — an adjustable margin you choose, not a statistical prediction
Examples
- A 12-page short at 1 minute per page ≈ 12 minutes; with a ±20% range, about 10–14 minutes.
- A 110-page feature ≈ 1 h 50 min; with ±20%, about 1 h 28 min to 2 h 12 min.
- If your last project timed out at 0.85 minutes per page, set that and the estimate follows your own pace.
Limitations
- Only valid for scripts in standard screenplay format; stage plays, AV scripts and treatments don't follow the convention.
- No genre multipliers are applied — there's no reliable evidence for fixed per-genre factors.
- Next steps: tidy pages with the script formatting tool, list locations, cast and props with the script breakdown tool, and rough out costs with the film budget planner.
FAQ
- Is one screenplay page really one minute?
- It's a long-standing rule of thumb for scripts in standard screenplay format, and a useful average for planning. Individual scenes vary a lot: rapid dialogue plays faster, detailed action or silent sequences can play slower.
- Can page count predict my final runtime?
- No. Pacing, direction, performance and the edit decide the final runtime. Use the estimate for early scheduling and budgeting, then replace it with a timed table read or an assembly cut.
- Why can't I upload my script?
- Reliable page counts depend on exact formatting, and we don't send scripts to a server. Use the page count from your screenwriting software, which already formats pages correctly.
- Is it free to use?
- Yes. There's no signup or account, and the calculations run entirely in your browser — nothing you type is sent to a server or an AI model.
- Can I share or save my results?
- Yes. Your inputs are saved in the page address as you type, so “Copy link” gives you a URL that reopens the calculator with the same settings. “Copy results” copies a plain-text summary.
Related free tools
More in Writing, Education & Discovery →AI Film Script Formatting Tool
Tidy a rough screenplay excerpt into a cleaner plain-text layout with uppercased scene headings and character cues, or turn notes into a voiceover script or numbered shot list.
AI Script Breakdown & Analysis Tool
Scan a script excerpt for scene headings, speaking roles and capitalised prop cues to produce a rough first-pass breakdown you then check manually.
AI Interactive Film Budget Planner
Get a fast line-item film budget estimate from shoot days, crew size, day rate, kit hire and edit days, with a 10% contingency and the formula shown.
Turn one job into three — a simple follow-up map
Referrals and repeat buyers are the quiet engine of great video companies. The free guide shows how to prompt them without feeling awkward.