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How long should an explainer video be

As long as the idea, then thirty seconds shorter.

Updated: 2026-09-10

Match length to where it will be watched

A product page explainer earns sixty to ninety seconds; people are deciding, not learning. A classroom or training video can run four to eight minutes if it is broken into clear sections. A YouTube explainer competes with everything else on the platform and needs a hook in the first eight seconds no matter how long it runs. Social feeds reward under a minute.

Count words, not minutes

Length is decided when the script is written. English narration runs about 150 words per minute; Chinese about 270 characters. A five-minute video is 750 words, which is a full page. If you cannot fill a page with things the pen can draw, the video should be shorter.

Where long videos sag

The middle. Openings get attention because they are written first, endings because they are written last. Signpost the middle: 'second of three', 'the last one is the one that changes everything'. Change the picture device every board or two so the eye has something new.

Longer is not more thorough

Cutting a sentence that has no picture makes the video both shorter and clearer. Most first drafts lose a fifth of their length in that pass without losing an idea.

Frequently asked questions

What is the ideal length for YouTube?

Between three and eight minutes for explainers, with the strongest claim before the ten-second mark.

How long does a one-minute video take to render?

A few minutes. Rendering time grows roughly with length.

Does the tool cut my script?

No. Pasted scripts are used in full; generated scripts are written to the length you choose.

Can I make a thirty-second version?

Yes. Choose 30 seconds, or paste a script of about 75 words.