What is the ideal explainer video length? A guide by platform
Find the ideal explainer video length for each platform and goal, how many words fit per minute and how to cut without losing content.
"How long should my video be?" is one of the most common beginner questions. The short answer: as short as possible while still achieving the goal. The useful answer depends on platform, audience and content type. This guide gathers practical benchmarks for the ideal video length of explainers and shows how to adjust yours in Editor de Vídeo Online.
Length by platform
| Platform | Range that tends to work | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Reels, TikTok, Shorts | 15–45 s | The 2-second hook is decisive |
| Stories | 5–15 s per story | Sequences of 3 to 5 stories |
| Social ads | 6–30 s | Main message in the first 5 seconds |
| 30–90 s | Professionals tolerate more explanation | |
| Landing page | 60–120 s | Must explain product and benefit |
| YouTube (explainer) | 3–10 min | Depends on topic depth |
| Online lesson (micro-lesson) | 2–6 min | One idea per video |
| Company video | 60–120 s | Short versions for social |
These numbers are starting points, not rules. What really defines length is retention: if people watch to the end, the video is the right size.
How many words fit in each length
Natural narration runs at roughly 150 words per minute:
| Length | Approximate words |
|---|---|
| 15 s | 35–40 |
| 30 s | 70–80 |
| 60 s | 140–160 |
| 90 s | 210–230 |
| 2 min | 280–300 |
Write the script and count the words: you will know the length before animating. See the 7-step explainer video script.
Signs your video is too long
- The intro takes more than 10% of the time.
- Sentences repeat the same idea.
- A scene sits still with no new information.
- Analytics show a steep audience drop in the middle.
How to shorten without losing content
- Cut the intro: start with the problem, not "hi, today we will talk about…".
- One idea per scene: if a scene explains two things, split it or cut one.
- Show, don't tell: the drawing or collage can replace a whole sentence.
- Trim pauses in the edit: in the Studio, drag clip handles to remove dead starts and ends (see how).
- Split into a series: a 10-minute topic can become five 2-minute videos.
Adjusting length in Editor de Vídeo Online
- Hand drawing: adjust the pace so the drawing follows the narration; use the preview scrubber to check key moments.
- Vox collage: the pace in General settings speeds everything up or down; each element's speed and extra delay fine-tune it. Hidden layers do not count toward the timing.
- Changing the background mid-video: set each segment's seconds.
- Python version:
--duracaosets the drawing seconds and--finalthe hold at the end (see).
Frequently asked questions
Do longer videos rank better on YouTube?
YouTube rewards watch time and satisfaction, not raw length. A long video with low retention tends to do worse than a short one people watch to the end.
What is the ideal length for Reels?
For reach, 15 to 45 seconds usually works. Educational content can run longer if the hook is strong. See animated Reels with collage.
Should I make one long video or several short ones?
For social media, several short ones. For YouTube and courses, a longer video split into chapters, or a series of micro-lessons.
Conclusion
The ideal length is the one that delivers the message with nothing extra. Use the platform ranges as a starting point, count your script's words and cut ruthlessly. Adjust your video's pace in Editor de Vídeo Online.
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Editor de Vídeo Online Team
Written by the Editor de Vídeo Online team, the in-browser animation tool for hand-drawn whiteboard videos, Vox-style collages and paper cutout effects.
