Short-Form Video Script Template (TikTok, Reels, Shorts)
Short videos fall apart when you plan only the words. This template scripts every second across four tracks at once: the shot, the on-screen text, the voiceover, and the sound. Pick the 15, 30, or 60-second version, write the hook first, and film from a plan instead of from memory.
Social & GrowthPDF + CSV8 sectionsfree, no paywall
What you get
- A hook-first beat map that shows how each beat stretches across 15, 30, and 60 seconds
- Three scene-by-scene script tables with time, shot, on-screen text, voiceover, and audio columns
- A caption and CTA field set plus a pre-post checklist for TikTok, Reels, and Shorts
- Editable CSV for Google Sheets or Excel, plus a branded print-ready PDF
How to use this template
- 1. Pick a length. Choose 15, 30, or 60 seconds based on how much the idea needs. One tip fits 15 seconds; a short story or a three-step process needs 30 to 60.
- 2. Write the hook row first. Fill the 0-3 second row before anything else: the opening shot, the text on screen, and the first spoken line. If the hook is weak, fix it before you script the rest.
- 3. Script all four tracks. For each row, fill the visual, on-screen text, voiceover, and audio columns. Many people watch with the sound off, so the text track should make sense alone.
- 4. Run the pre-post checklist. Before you publish, write the caption and CTA, then tick every item on the checklist. Save the finished script so you can reuse the structure.
Still choosing the tool you will run this in? Compare two side by side, or read how each profile is built in our review methodology.
What's inside
2 of 8 sections shown; the remaining 6 come with the free download.
What is a short-form video script template?
A short-form video script template is a timed grid that plans four tracks at once: what the camera shows, what the on-screen text says, what you say out loud, and what the audio is doing. Each row covers a few seconds, so filming becomes a list to work through rather than a memory test.
It helps most when a video has to carry a real explanation in under a minute. Planning the text track separately also means the video still makes sense with the sound off, which is how a large share of Reels and Shorts are actually watched.
Hook-first beat map
Every short video in this template follows the same four beats. The timings show how each beat scales with length. Plan the beats here, then script the full table for your chosen length.
| Beat | Job of this beat | 15-second video | 30-second video | 60-second video |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Hook | Stop the scroll and state the payoff | 0-2s | 0-3s | 0-3s |
| 2. Setup | Give just enough context to follow along | 2-5s | 3-8s | 3-12s |
6 more sections and the PDF + CSV are behind the free download.
Tools that help with this
The template does the thinking; these are the products creators run it in. The full software directory has the rest.
CapCut
CapCut is a free video editing platform by ByteDance that runs on desktop, mobile, and browser.
$0/mo
Opus Clip
Opus Clip is an AI video clipping tool that turns long-form videos into short, social-ready clips for TikTok, YouTube Shorts, and Instagram Reels.
$0/mo
VEED
VEED is a browser-based video editor that lets creators cut, caption, and publish videos without installing software.
$0/mo
Descript
Descript is an AI-powered video and audio editor that lets you edit media by editing text.
$0/mo
Kapwing
Kapwing is a browser-based video editor built for creators and teams who need to produce, subtitle, and repurpose video content without installing software.
$0/mo
Categories to browse: AI Video Tools, Video Editing SaaS.
Frequently asked questions
What is a short-form video script template?
It is a time-coded table that plans a vertical video second by second across four columns: the shot, the on-screen text, the voiceover and the audio. You pick a 15, 30 or 60-second version and fill the hook row first.
How do you write a script for a TikTok video?
Start with the hook: the first shot, the first line, and the on-screen text for the opening 3 seconds. Then plan the setup, the value, and the payoff with a single CTA. Script the visual, text, voiceover, and audio for each moment so filming and editing follow a plan.
How many words fit in a 30-second video?
It depends on how fast you speak. A common range is roughly 2 to 3 words per second, so about 60 to 90 words for 30 seconds. Read your script aloud with a timer and cut until it fits with room to breathe.
Can I use the same script for TikTok, Reels, and Shorts?
Usually, yes. The hook-first structure works on all three. Adjust the caption, hashtags, and sound for each platform, and export a clean file without another app's watermark before you upload it elsewhere.
Do I need a script if I film off the cuff?
Script the first three seconds and the last five, even if the middle stays loose. Those are the parts that decide whether anyone watches and whether they do anything afterwards, and they are the hardest to fix in the edit.