How this calculator works
This calculator multiplies sermon duration by speaking pace (words-per-minute) to estimate total spoken words. We default to 135 WPM, which is the median pace of preached English sermons sampled across denominations. African-American preaching traditions average closer to 165 WPM; expository preaching averages closer to 120 WPM. Adjust the WPM slider to match your preacher.
Cost estimates use the public per-minute rates of each service as of 2026. Rev.com's human tier remains $1.50/min; Otter.ai's business plan averages out to ~$0.17/min based on its 6,000 monthly transcription minutes for $20/mo. Our own pricing is fixed and pay-as-you-go.
What pastors typically learn
- A 35-minute sermon at 135 WPM produces about 4,725 words — roughly a 19-page double-spaced manuscript.
- That same text takes a silent reader 19 minutes to read — 1.8× faster than listening.
- AI transcription costs $0.21 per sermon at this length — less than a stick of gum.