Since 2011, Gisteo has crafted best-in-class 90 second explainer videos using diverse styles. No matter what you do, sell or offer, we’ll make sure your audience gets the gist!
30 seconds explainer videos are great if you want something super succint. 60 second explainer videos are perfect if you want to strike a balance between concise and informative. But if you’re looking for a more classic elevator pitch length informative and still brief enough, you want a 90 second explainer.
90 second explainer videos are one of our specialties here at Gisteo and we’ve produced thousands of 90 second videos over the years.
In the world of video production, a minute and a half is plenty of time. That doesn’t mean you can fit an entire white paper or sales deck into the script though. It’s easy than you might think to underestimate just how many words fit into a 90 second explainer video, and one of our most common tasks at Gisteo streamlining a dense script down to the basics.
When writing a 90 second script, you should plan for a total of about 220-230 words. For comparison, 30 second explainer videos are around 75 words while 60 second explainers are approximately 150 words.
220-230 words is comfortably length that ensures you have plenty of time to introduce the topic, explain it in time, and wrap it up with a swift conclusion that gives your audience its next steps.
Here a few tips to creating a video people will want to watch
Stick to the thesis: set a single goal for your video, and make sure everything in your video leads and is connected to that goal. Otherwise, you’ll be surprised how fast 90 seconds fly by before you can make your point. Don’t try to do too much!
Build strong visuals: if you want to make sure your audience stays and watches, you better make them. Build compelling visuals, from digital avatars to diverse motion graphics, that keep them glued to the screen.
Get the right voiceover: you’d be surprised how much difference a great voiceover artist can make. That standard radio voice may be great for a short spot, but gets boring quickly. The right voice is engaging, conversational, and speaks directly to your audience.
Insert some humor: of course, this isn’t appropriate for all brands, but when you can, make sure your script builds in some fun and unexpected mentions that jolt your audience out of the lull of watching yet another video
Tell a story. Ninety seconds is plenty of time to follow the basic problem-journey-resolution story path. That grabs your audience from the beginning and helps carry them through the entire video.
Find the right partner: The do-it-yourself route can be treacherous. Partnering with pros like us here at Gisteo helps ensure you get your money’s worth and the results you deserve.
Watch: a recent 90 second explainer video production for Paycile, an insurance payments & reconciliation platform.
Below are just a few of the 90 second explainer videos that we’ve done over the years here at Gisteo. Make sure you check out of Portfolio page for a more comprehensive review our work across different style, sectors, uses and lengths. If you’re curious about pricing, we’ve got you covered there too. Just visit the Pricing page for our transparent, all-included fixed fees.
Explainer for a firm specialized in the senior market
Part of a series of videos for this logistics technology platform
Website explainer for company that sells athletic braces
Explainer for an agile innovation management suite software
Explainer video for their MSP product for this IT services company
Kinetic type explainer for an ordering app for hotels
As you can probably imagine, the strength of a 90 second video compared to shorter videos is its depth. Unlike its 30 second or 60 second counterparts, 90 second explainer videos give you the opportunity to dig a little deeper into the problem as well as the solution. Want to clarify a complex topic, draw connections with other products and services, maybe even bring in an expert for a quick quote? All of that is possible with 90 second explainer videos.
If you can get all this right, your 90 second explainer will keep your audience’s attention of your audience for its entire duration and then richness of the content will pay dividends. As we’ve talked about before, there’s no single “best length” for online videos–it all depends on the subject, audience, and context. If your content is engaging and you post it on the right channels, 90 second explainer videos can be powerful marketing tools.
Watch: a classic 90 second problem-solution explainer video script with a modern, AI-driven production.
There are situations in which a 90 second explainer video might not be ideal. Let’s dig into some of the potential pitfalls:
Let’s talk! Schedule a free consultation using the calendar below or contact us at info@gisteo.com to further discuss your video needs.
Quick answer: a 90 second explainer video usually needs about 200 to 230 spoken words. For most Gisteo scripts, the sweet spot is around 220 to 225 words because it leaves room for pauses, visual transitions, and a clear call to action.
Use this simple formula when planning a script: video seconds x words per minute / 60. A relaxed read is closer to 135 words per minute, while a faster voiceover may reach 155 words per minute.
Estimated script length: 218 words
| Video length | Recommended script length |
|---|---|
| 30 seconds | 65 to 80 words |
| 60 seconds | 130 to 155 words |
| 90 seconds | 200 to 230 words |
| 120 seconds | 270 to 310 words |
Most 90 second speeches and voiceovers land between 200 and 230 words. The exact count depends on the speaker's pace and how much breathing room the visuals need.
Usually, yes. A 250-word script can work only with a fast read and limited pauses, but it often feels rushed. Trimming to about 220 words makes the story clearer and easier to follow.
A strong 90 second script should define the problem, introduce the solution, show the key benefit, add proof or context, and close with one simple next step.
Gisteo narrows each script to one core message, cuts dense copy into visual beats, and leaves enough pacing for the animation or live-action footage to do some of the explaining.
