How long should a video be?

The best length is as long as the topic needs and no longer, because viewers leave once a video starts repeating itself. Eight to twelve minutes is a reasonable starting point for most explanatory subjects.

Should I write a full script or just an outline?

An outline of points keeps most people sounding natural, while a full script tends to sound read aloud. Full scripting is still useful for passages that must be exact, such as a technical explanation or a sponsor statement.

Does this work for short videos?

Yes — set a target of a minute or less and the allocations shrink proportionally. Below a minute it is usually better to cut down to a hook and one body section.

YouTube Tools

Video Script Generator

Enter your topic and target length to get a script outline with time allocated to each section.

Topic

Audience Target length (minutes)

What this is

A script outline is a plan for a video's contents before any sentences are written: which sections exist, how long each gets, and what job each does. What makes an outline more useful than a full script early on is the time allocation — most videos that drag are not badly worded, they simply let one section take three times its share. This outline divides your target length into proportions that tend to work for an explainer.

How it works

The proportions are roughly 5 per cent hook, 10 per cent context, 75 per cent body across three sections, and the remainder for the close. They are not a rule, but they are a useful warning: if your introduction is eating a quarter of the video, that is visible in the outline before anything is recorded.

The outline does not write the sentences you say, and that is deliberate. A word-for-word script makes most people sound like they are reading, while an outline of points keeps you sounding like you are talking. If you genuinely prefer a full script, write it from this outline once the order feels right.

How to use it

Enter your topic and audience Both shape what each section is told to cover.
Set the target length Every section's time allocation is recalculated from this number.
Edit the outline in place The box is editable, and what copies is the version you edited.

Common questions

How long should a video be?: The best length is as long as the topic needs and no longer, because viewers leave once a video starts repeating itself. Eight to twelve minutes is a reasonable starting point for most explanatory subjects.
Should I write a full script or just an outline?: An outline of points keeps most people sounding natural, while a full script tends to sound read aloud. Full scripting is still useful for passages that must be exact, such as a technical explanation or a sponsor statement.
Does this work for short videos?: Yes — set a target of a minute or less and the allocations shrink proportionally. Below a minute it is usually better to cut down to a hook and one body section.

Notes

With no language model enabled, the outline comes from a written structure in your browser.
Check every number and claim you put into the script before recording.