Reading Time Calculator
Instantly estimate reading and speaking time for any text. Adjust the words-per-minute rate to match your audience.
How is reading time calculated?
Reading time is estimated by dividing the total word count by the average reading speed in words per minute (WPM). For example, a 1,000-word article at 200 WPM takes approximately 5 minutes to read. The default WPM in this tool is 200, which reflects the average adult silent reading speed for general-purpose content.
Speaking time uses a lower default of 130 WPM, reflecting average conversational speaking pace. This is useful for podcast scripts, presentation notes, and speeches.
Use cases
- Blog and editorial publishing: Many readers abandon articles over 7 minutes. Knowing your reading time before publishing helps you calibrate content length.
- Podcast and video scripts: Estimate how long your recorded content will run before you go to production.
- Academic and technical writing: Ensure conference papers and submission word limits are within expected reading time ranges for reviewers.
Frequently Asked Questions
What WPM should I use?
200 WPM is appropriate for general non-fiction content aimed at adult readers. Use 150–180 WPM for dense technical or academic text, and 250–300 WPM for light fiction or news articles. For children's content, 100–150 WPM is more accurate.
Does the tool store my text?
No. All analysis runs in your browser. Your text is never sent to any server.