Check whether your SRT or VTT subtitles are readable before you publish.
| # | Time | Duration | CPS | Lines | Status | Text |
|---|
Even perfectly transcribed subtitles can be hard to read when too much text appears for too little time. A reading-speed check helps you find subtitle cues that need shorter text, longer timing or better line breaks.
If a subtitle contains 80 visible characters and stays on screen for only 2 seconds, the reading speed is 40 CPS. That is too fast for many viewers, especially on mobile screens or videos with burned-in subtitles.
CPS means characters per second. It compares the amount of visible subtitle text with the duration of the cue. Lower CPS is easier to read; very high CPS means viewers must read quickly or miss part of the sentence.
| Level | CPS range | Meaning | Recommended action |
|---|---|---|---|
| OK | ≤ 17 CPS | Comfortable for most subtitle workflows | Keep timing and check line breaks |
| Warn | 18–21 CPS | Readable but already dense | Shorten text or extend the cue if possible |
| Too fast | > 21 CPS | Likely too fast for many viewers | Split the cue, reduce words or adjust timing |
Reading speed is especially important when subtitles are burned into videos, shown on small screens or delivered to clients for review.
Keep subtitles short enough for fast vertical videos where UI elements already compete for attention.
Make training subtitles readable for learners who need to follow terminology, slides and narration at the same time.
Find overloaded cues before sending subtitle files to clients, translators or publishing teams.
After finding cues that are too fast, open the subtitle in the editor to split lines, shorten text, adjust timing or burn readable subtitles into the final video.
Open AI Subtitle Generator Burn subtitles into video