Write your script in plain text and watch it become a properly formatted screenplay: Courier 12, correct margins for scene headings, characters, dialogue and transitions, real page breaks with (MORE) and (CONT'D), and a running page count. Download it as a PDF when you are done.
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Fountain cheat sheet
Scene heading
INT. KITCHEN - DAY or .FLASHBACK
Character
Name in CAPS on its own line, dialogue directly below. Force with @McCoy
Parenthetical
(whispering) under the character
Transition
CUT TO: (caps, ends in TO:) or > FADE OUT.
Dual dialogue
Add ^ after the second character name
Emphasis
*italic***bold**_underline_
Centered
>THE END<
Page break
===
Hidden
[[note]], /* boneyard */, # Section, = synopsis
Scenes
Characters
Character
Speeches
Words
Layout: US Letter, 12-point Courier, 1.5" left and 1" right margins, about 55 lines per page, the standard spec screenplay format. Your script stays in your browser.
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How to use the Screenplay Formatter
Write or paste your script in the left box. Start scene headings with INT. or EXT., type character names in CAPS on their own line, and put dialogue right under them.
Use the insert buttons for scene headings, dialogue, parentheticals, transitions, dual dialogue and page breaks if you don't remember the syntax.
Check the preview on the right: each sheet is one printed page, so the page count and screen-time estimate update as you type.
Add a title page by starting the file with lines like Title:, Author: and Contact:.
Export with Download PDF, or keep an editable copy with Download .fountain.
Screenplay element margins
Measurements are from the left edge of a US Letter page, in 12-point Courier where every character is 0.1 inch wide and every line is 1/6 inch tall. Small variations between studios and screenwriting programs are normal.
Element
Starts at
Width
Fountain syntax
Scene heading (slugline)
1.5"
6.0"
INT. DINER - NIGHT
Action
1.5"
6.0"
Any paragraph
Character name
3.7"
to the right margin
MAYA or MAYA (V.O.)
Parenthetical
3.1"
about 2.5"
(whispering)
Dialogue
2.5"
3.5"
Lines under the character
Transition
right-aligned to 7.5"
short
CUT TO:
Page number
0.5" from top, right-aligned
-
Automatic from page 2
Plain-text rules the formatter follows
Scene headings need a blank line before them and must begin with INT, EXT, EST, INT./EXT or I/E. Start any line with a period (.FLASHBACK) to force one.
Characters are lines written entirely in capitals with a blank line before and text directly below. Add @ to force a name with lowercase letters, such as @McCLANE.
Transitions are capitalized lines ending in TO: with blank lines around them. Use > to force others, like > FADE OUT.
Notes and drafts: text in [[double brackets]] or /* comment blocks */ is hidden, and lines starting with # (sections) or = (synopses) organize the script without printing.
Tip: press Tab on a line in the editor to turn it into capitals, a quick way to type character names and scene headings.
Typical page counts
Project
Usual length
Short film
5–30 pages
Half-hour TV episode (single camera)
about 25–35 pages
One-hour TV drama
about 50–65 pages
Feature film spec script
about 90–120 pages
Frequently asked questions
What is standard screenplay format?
Spec screenplays are written in 12-point Courier on US Letter paper with a 1.5-inch left margin and about a 1-inch right margin. Scene headings and action span the full width, dialogue sits about 2.5 inches from the left edge in a 3.5-inch column, character names start about 3.7 inches from the left, parentheticals about 3.1 inches, and transitions are aligned to the right. This tool uses those measurements.
Does one page really equal one minute of screen time?
It is a long-standing industry rule of thumb, not a guarantee. Because the format is fixed (Courier 12, roughly 55 lines per page), an average page plays for about a minute. Dialogue-heavy pages often play faster and dense action pages slower, so use the estimate as a guide only.
What is Fountain?
Fountain is an open plain-text markup for screenplays. You write in any text editor using simple conventions (INT./EXT. for scene headings, CAPS for character names, CUT TO: for transitions) and a program like this one turns it into formatted pages. Because it is plain text, your script stays readable and portable forever.
How do I write two characters speaking at the same time?
Write the first character and their dialogue as usual, then add a caret ^ after the second character's name, for example MAYA ^. The two speeches are printed side by side, which is the standard way to show simultaneous dialogue.
How does the formatter handle dialogue that runs onto the next page?
If a speech is long enough to split, it is broken at a line boundary, (MORE) is printed under the last line on the first page and the character's name is repeated with (CONT'D) at the top of the next page. Short speeches move to the next page as a whole, and a scene heading is never left alone at the bottom of a page.
Is my script uploaded or stored on a server?
No. Formatting, page counting and PDF creation all happen in your browser. Your text is autosaved only in this browser's local storage so you don't lose work if you close the tab. Use Download .fountain to keep a backup file.
Can I open the file in other screenwriting apps?
Yes. The .fountain export is a standard Fountain file that many screenwriting apps can import, and the PDF is ready to send or print. The formatted .txt export keeps the layout with spaces for plain-text submissions.
Are all the tools on FreeToolCabin tested for quality and accuracy?
Yes! Every tool on our site undergoes automated Q/A testing in real browser environments to ensure high precision, correct output, and zero errors. If you happen to spot a bug or have a suggestion, please contact us at [email protected] and our team will review it right away.