How to Write a 30-Second Video Script (With a Word Count Guide)

Thirty seconds is one of the most common lengths for short videos: social ads, Reels, YouTube pre-roll, event promos and website intros. It sounds short, and it is. That is the point. A 30-second script forces you to say one thing well.

How many words fit in 30 seconds?

Most people speak at around 130 to 160 words per minute on camera. That puts a 30-second script at roughly 65 to 80 words. If you speak slowly or want pauses for effect, aim nearer 60.

For other lengths, see our words to minutes guide.

Use a four-part structure

1. Hook (about 5 seconds). One line that makes the right person keep watching.
2. Point (about 10 seconds). The single thing you want them to understand.
3. Proof (about 10 seconds). A number, a result, a quick example or a demonstration.
4. Call to action (about 5 seconds). One clear next step.

If you are short on hooks, our list of hook formulas for the first 3 seconds is a good starting point.

Example: a local service ad

"Your boiler should not sound like that. (Hook) We service and repair boilers across Leeds, usually within 48 hours. (Point) Last winter we fixed over 300 boilers, and most visits took under an hour. (Proof) Book a visit at our website before the cold sets in. (Call to action)"

That is 52 words, leaving room for pauses and on-screen text.

Example: a creator intro

"I tested five budget microphones so you do not have to. Only one sounded good in a normal room, and it costs less than dinner for two. I will show you the side-by-side in this video. Stay to the end for the settings I use."

Cut until it hurts

First drafts of 30-second scripts are almost always 120 words. Cutting is the skill. Remove:

• Introductions ("Hi, I am... and today...") unless your face is the brand.
• Adjectives that do not change the meaning.
• A second point. Save it for another video.

Then read it aloud with a timer. If you rush, it is still too long.

Write for the ear

Short sentences. Everyday words. One idea per sentence. A script that reads well on paper can still trip you up on camera, so check our guide to writing scripts for the ear.

Record with the time in view

A 30-second video leaves no room to wander. In Cue, you can set a time target for each script and see whether you are ahead or behind while you read, so you know straight away if a take ran long. Record three takes, pick the best, and trim the silence at the start and end.