YouTube Shorts Script Template + 20 Hooks

A YouTube Shorts script template splits a vertical video into 4 parts: a 3-second hook, a quick setup, the payoff and one call to action. At about 150 words per minute, a 15-second Short is about 37 words, 30 seconds is 75 and 60 seconds is 150. Copy a script or hook below and voice it in Kveeky.

Key Takeaways

Budget words, not seconds. At about 150 words per minute, 15 seconds is about 37 words, 30 seconds is 75 and 60 seconds is 150.

Say the payoff or the problem in the first line. Skip greetings and channel intros: the hook gets about 3 seconds and 7 to 10 words.

One video, one idea. If you have 3 ideas, make 3 Shorts.

Put the hook on screen as text, too. The first line should still work for anyone watching without sound.

End with one ask. Follow, save or comment, not all three.

The same script works for Shorts and Reels. YouTube Shorts can run up to 3 minutes; check each app’s current limit before you post.

Fill in every script at once

Type your video details in the boxes below. Nothing is sent or saved.
Pick a tab in the "Shorts and Reels scripts" section. Your details are already inside every script and hook.
Press Copy, paste the script into Kveeky, choose a voice and download MP3 or WAV for your editor.

Shorts and Reels scripts

Choose a length or jump to the hooks. Each length shows the timing and word budget for every part, then full scripts to copy. Word counts include the placeholders, and each script sits a little under its budget so your own details still fit.

15-second Short or Reel (about 37 words)

Best for one tip, one fact or one quick fix. There's no time for a setup, so the hook leads straight into the payoff.

Time	Part	Word budget	Its job	On screen
0–3 s	Hook	7 words	Name the problem or promise the result	The hook as big text
3–6 s	Setup	8 words	Say why it matters	The “before” moment
6–13 s	Payoff	17 words	The tip, fact or fix	The tip in action
13–15 s	Call to action	5 words	One small ask	Your handle

Quick fix, 15 seconds ≈ 30 words

Stop [the common mistake]. It's costing you more than you think. Here's the fix: [your one-line tip]. Do that once, and you get [the result]. Follow for more [topic] tips.

One surprising fact, 15 seconds ≈ 30 words

Most [who it's for] don't know this about [topic]. [Your surprising, checkable fact.] That's why [what it means for the viewer]. Save this, and try it before your next [task].

30-second Short or Reel (about 75 words)

The most flexible length. There's room for a setup and up to 3 quick points, as long as each point is one sentence.

Time	Part	Word budget	Its job	On screen
0–3 s	Hook	7 words	Promise the payoff	The hook as big text
3–8 s	Setup	12 words	Who this is for and why now	Your face or the problem
8–25 s	Payoff	43 words	Up to 3 points, one sentence each	One shot or caption per point
25–30 s	Call to action	13 words	One ask	Handle or “save this” text

3 tips, 30 seconds ≈ 66 words

3 [topic] tips I wish I knew sooner. If you're one of the [who it's for], these will save you time. Tip 1: [first tip, one sentence]. Tip 2: [second tip, one sentence]. And tip 3, the big one: stop [the common mistake]. Do these 3 things and you'll get [the result]. Save this so you have it next time, and follow [your handle] for more.

Myth vs fact, 30 seconds ≈ 65 words

Everyone says [the common advice]. Here's why that's wrong for most [who it's for]. The myth: [the myth, in one sentence]. The truth: [what actually works, in one sentence]. I learned this the hard way, after [your short, true story]. So next time, skip [the common mistake] and [the better way] instead. You'll get [the result] faster. Comment "myth" if you've heard this one too.

Before and after, 30 seconds ≈ 62 words

This used to take me [old time]. Now it takes [new time]. Here's the change. Before, I was [the common mistake], and it never worked. Then I tried [the new method]. First, [step 1]. Then, [step 2]. The result: [the result], every single time. If you're one of the [who it's for], try it this week and tell me how it goes.

60-second Short or Reel (about 150 words)

Use a full minute for a mini tutorial or a short story. Keep each step to one or two sentences and show it on screen as the voice says it.

Time	Part	Word budget	Its job	On screen
0–3 s	Hook	8 words	Promise the result	The result, shown first
3–10 s	Setup	17 words	The problem and who has it	The “before” moment
10–50 s	Payoff	100 words	3 to 5 steps or the story	One shot per step
50–60 s	Call to action	25 words	Recap and one ask	Handle, longer video or link

Mini tutorial, 60 seconds ≈ 118 words

Here's how to get [the result], step by step. If you're one of the [who it's for], you've probably tried [the common mistake]. It takes too long and it rarely works. So here's what I do instead. Step 1: [first step, such as gather what you need]. This takes about [time]. Step 2: [the main action]. The trick here is [one small detail most people miss]. Step 3: [the next action]. Don't skip this one, because [why it matters]. Step 4: [the final step]. And that's it: [the result], without the stress. Quick recap: [step 1], [step 2], [step 3], [step 4]. Save this so you can follow along next time, and follow [your handle] for more [topic].

Short story with a lesson, 60 seconds ≈ 118 words

[A time or place], I made a mistake that cost me [what it cost]. Here's what happened. I was [what you were doing], and like most [who it's for], I thought [the common mistake] was the right move. At first, it seemed fine. Then [the moment it went wrong]. That's when [the person or thing that helped] showed me a better way: [the lesson, in one sentence]. I tried it the next day. [What changed, in one sentence.] Within [time], I had [the result]. Looking back, the lesson is simple. [The lesson again, said a different way.] If this sounds familiar, you're not alone. Comment "same" if it's happened to you, and follow [your handle] for part 2.

20 hooks for Shorts and Reels

Swap any of these into the first line of a script. Each one is 7 to 12 words, so it fits the first 3 seconds. Pick the type that matches your payoff.

1. Question ≈ 10 words

Why does nobody tell [who it's for] this about [topic]?

2. Question ≈ 8 words

Want [the result]? Do this before anything else.

3. Question ≈ 9 words

Are you still [the common mistake]? Watch this first.

4. Question ≈ 10 words

What would you do with an extra hour every week?

5. Mistake ≈ 9 words

Stop [the common mistake]. Here's what to do instead.

6. Mistake ≈ 11 words

The biggest [topic] mistake I see, and how to fix it.

7. Mistake ≈ 10 words

If you're [the common mistake], you're making it too hard.

8. Mistake ≈ 12 words

I wasted [time or money] on this so you don't have to.

9. Result first ≈ 10 words

This is how I get [the result], start to finish.

10. Result first ≈ 10 words

[Old time] down to [new time]. Here's the one change.

11. Result first ≈ 10 words

Here's the finished result. Now let me show you how.

12. Result first ≈ 11 words

[The result], with no extra tools and no experience. Here's how.

13. Contrarian ≈ 7 words

Unpopular opinion: most [topic] advice is backwards.

14. Contrarian ≈ 10 words

You don't need [the thing everyone buys]. You need this.

15. Contrarian ≈ 12 words

Everyone says [the common advice]. I tried the opposite. Here's what happened.

16. Contrarian ≈ 8 words

The [topic] rule I break every single day.

17. List ≈ 8 words

3 [topic] tricks that feel illegal to know.

18. List ≈ 11 words

5 things every one of the [who it's for] should know.

19. Story ≈ 7 words

I almost quit [topic]. Then this happened.

20. Story ≈ 12 words

[A time or place], someone told me one thing that changed everything.

Endings and calls to action

Pick one ending per video. Keep it to the last 2 to 5 seconds, and match it to what you want most: followers, saves, comments or views on a longer video.

Follow ≈ 10 words

Follow [your handle] for a new [topic] tip every week.

Save ≈ 10 words

Save this so you have it when you need it.

Comment ≈ 11 words

Which tip are you trying first? Tell me in the comments.

Longer video ≈ 11 words

Want the full walkthrough? The long version is linked right below.

Part 2 ≈ 11 words

Part 2 is coming soon. Follow so you don't miss it.

Loop back to the hook ≈ 7 words

And that's exactly why you should never…

Words in square brackets without a highlight are details only you know. Replace them before you generate the audio, and only use facts, numbers and stories that are true.

Script ready? Paste it into Kveeky, pick an upbeat voice and download a WAV for CapCut, Premiere or your phone editor.

Voice your Short free

How long will your Short run?

Paste your script and pick a pace. Short-form voiceovers are often read a little faster than average, so try the upbeat preset too. Set the target to 15, 30 or 60 seconds to see your word budget.

For longer videos, use the words to minutes calculator.

Which hook should you use?

Match the hook to the payoff. A hook that promises something the video doesn’t deliver loses viewers and trust.

Hook type	Use it when the payoff is	Example opening
Question	An answer the viewer already wants	”Why does nobody tell you this?”
Mistake	A fix for something people get wrong	”Stop doing this. Do this instead.”
Result first	A visible end result or a time saved	”Here’s the finished result. Now let me show you how.”
Contrarian	A view that goes against common advice	”Unpopular opinion: most advice is backwards.”
List	Several quick tips in one video	”3 tricks that feel illegal to know.”
Story	A lesson from something that happened to you	”I almost quit. Then this happened.”

These are editorial patterns, not platform rules. Test 2 hooks on the same payoff and keep the one your audience watches longer.

How long should a Short or Reel be?

Length	Words at 150 wpm	Best for	Leave out
15 seconds	About 37	One tip, one fact, one quick fix	Setup and backstory
30 seconds	About 75	Up to 3 tips, myth vs fact, before and after	More than 3 points
60 seconds	About 150	A mini tutorial or a short story	A full tutorial: link to a longer video

YouTube allows Shorts of up to 3 minutes with a square or vertical aspect ratio. Instagram and TikTok set their own limits, which change from time to time, so check the app before you post. Word budgets use the average US speaking rate.

Write the voiceover for the scroll

Start mid-thought. Cut "Hey guys" and "In this video". The first word should already be the hook.
One idea per sentence. Short sentences are easier to caption and easier for an AI voice to read cleanly.
Show the hook as text. The first line should still make sense for anyone watching without sound.
Cut every line that doesn't move the payoff. If a sentence could go in a different video, it doesn't belong in this one.
Write numbers the way you'd say them. "3 tips" and "10 minutes" read naturally; long figures and symbols don't.
Read it aloud once. If you run out of breath, the sentence is too long. Our guide to [pauses, emphasis and pacing](/resources/ai-voice-pacing-emphasis-breath/) helps a fast read still sound natural.

Do you need to disclose an AI voiceover?

YouTube asks creators to disclose realistic altered or synthetic content, such as making a real person appear to say something they didn’t. Its own examples of uses that don’t need disclosure include using generative AI to help write a script and cloning your own voice for voiceovers.

A clearly narrated tip video with a stock AI voice is usually closer to the second group, but check YouTube’s guidance for your exact case. For copy-ready labels for YouTube, Meta and TikTok, use our AI voice disclosure generator. This is general information, not legal advice.

How Kveeky helps you voice Shorts and Reels

700+ voices in 40+ languagesAmerican, British, Australian and Canadian English voices, plus other languages for the same Short in a new market.

Speed from 0.5× to 2×Fit a script into 15, 30 or 60 seconds without cutting words you need.

Emotion presetsChoose Happy for an upbeat tip or Calm for a story, from presets such as Neutral, Happy, Calm and Sad.

MP3 or WAV downloadDrop the file into your video editor and line up captions with each line.

See more examples on our AI voiceover for YouTube videos page and our social media video voiceover page. For longer product videos, use the explainer video script template.

Before you post

Check	Why it matters
Hook is the first line, 7 to 12 words	Viewers decide in the first seconds
Script within the word budget for its length	A rushed read is hard to follow
One idea and one call to action	Two asks compete with each other
Hook shown as on-screen text	The video still works on mute
Captions match the final voiceover	Viewers who read along don’t get lost
Every fact, number and story is true	Proof only works when it can be checked
Disclosure checked for realistic synthetic content	YouTube asks for it in some cases
Paid plan for sponsored or client videos	Paid Kveeky plans include commercial usage rights

Frequently asked questions

How many words is a 60-second YouTube Short script?

About 150 words, based on the average US speaking rate of about 150 words per minute. A 30-second Short is about 75 words and a 15-second Short is about 37 words.

How long can a YouTube Short be?

YouTube’s help center says Shorts can be up to 3 minutes long, with a square or vertical aspect ratio. Most hook-and-payoff scripts work best at 15 to 60 seconds.

What makes a good hook for Shorts and Reels?

A good hook names the payoff or the problem in the first line, in about 7 to 12 words, with no greeting or channel intro. Show it as on-screen text too, for viewers watching on mute.

Do I need to disclose an AI voiceover on YouTube?

YouTube asks for disclosure of realistic altered or synthetic content, such as making a real person appear to say something they didn’t. Its examples that don’t need disclosure include AI help with a script and cloning your own voice for voiceovers.

Can I use the same script for YouTube Shorts and Instagram Reels?

Yes. The hook, setup, payoff and call to action work the same way on both. Check each app’s current length limit, and keep on-screen text clear of the app’s buttons.

Sources

Shorts up to 3 minutes, square or vertical aspect ratio: YouTube Help, “Upload YouTube Shorts”, retrieved 20 October 2026.
When to disclose altered or synthetic content, and examples that don’t need disclosure: YouTube Help, “Disclosing use of altered or synthetic content”, retrieved 20 October 2026.
Average US speaking rate of about 150 words per minute: National Center for Voice and Speech, “Voice Qualities”, retrieved 20 October 2026.
Kveeky free plan and commercial usage rights on paid plans: Kveeky pricing, retrieved 20 October 2026.

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YouTube Shorts Script Template: 20 Hooks for Shorts & Reels