How to Set Up a DIY Teleprompter with Your Phone (Under $30)

If you record video content, you know that looking directly into the camera lens is crucial for building trust with your audience. But memorizing a 5-minute script or even a 60-second TikTok is incredibly time-consuming.

A physical teleprompter allows you to read your script while looking directly into the lens. Professional rigs cost anywhere from $100 to $500, but did you know you can build a highly functional, studio-grade DIY teleprompter using your phone and less than $30 of materials?

In this guide, we'll show you how.

---

How a Physical Teleprompter Works

Before we build one, it helps to understand the science. A teleprompter uses beamsplitter glass placed at a 45-degree angle.

• A camera sits directly behind the glass, looking through it.


• A screen (like your phone or tablet) sits flat underneath the glass, pointing upward.


• The glass reflects the text from the screen toward the speaker, while remaining completely transparent to the camera lens.

Because the text is reflected, it will appear backwards (mirrored) on the glass. That's why your teleprompter software must have a Mirror Mode feature!

---

Materials Checklist (Total Cost: ~$25)

You can grab these items from your local hardware store or Amazon:

1. A Cheap Photo Frame (8x10 or 5x7): $3 - $5. We will use the glass from this frame as our beamsplitter.
2. A Plastic Storage Box or Cardboard Box: $2 - $4. This will serve as our prompter hood to block out ambient light.
3. Black Matte Tape (or Duct Tape): $3 - $5. To hold everything together and prevent light leaks.
4. A Piece of Black Fabric (or a black t-shirt): $2 - $5. To drape over the camera lens behind the frame.
5. Your Smartphone or Tablet: $0. This will run the teleprompter software.

---

Step-by-Step DIY Assembly

Follow these simple steps to build your rig:

Step 1: Prep the Hood

Take your cardboard or plastic box. Cut a hole in the back of the box just large enough for your camera lens to fit through. Paint the inside of the box matte black, or line it with black tape to prevent reflections.

Step 2: Mount the Glass

Remove the glass from your photo frame. Position it inside the front of your box at a 45-degree angle. Secure the top and bottom edges of the glass to the box using your black tape.

[!WARNING]

Be extremely careful when handling the edges of the glass. Use tape to cover any sharp glass corners to prevent cuts!

Step 3: Place Your Phone

Lay your smartphone flat on the table, pointing upward, directly beneath the angled glass. If you designed your box with a bottom lip, you can place the phone inside the box directly.

Step 4: Drape the Back

Place your camera lens through the hole in the back of your box. Drape your black fabric over the camera and the back of the box. This ensures no light enters from behind, making the reflected text on the glass appear bright and easy to read.

---

The Software: How to Run it Free

Now that your hardware is built, you need software that supports mirroring.

Open your phone's browser and go to ScriptPacer.com.
1. Paste or import your script.
2. Adjust your formatting (font size, scrolling speed).
3. Click "Launch Teleprompter" and toggle the "Mirror Mode" button. This will instantly flip the text horizontally so it appears perfectly readable when reflected on your DIY glass!

ScriptPacer is 100% free, runs offline, requires no account signups, and includes a built-in script timer and section pacing indicators. Try practicing with your new DIY rig on ScriptPacer today!