Reading Time Calculator
Find out how long an article, script or speech takes to read. Paste your text and get silent reading time and speaking time, then adjust the reading speed for your audience.
Runs in your browser
How to use
- Paste your article, script or speech.
- Read the estimated reading and speaking times.
- Adjust the reading speed slider if your audience reads faster or slower.
- Use the result for “x min read” labels or to time a talk.
How it works
Reading time = number of words ÷ reading speed. The default of 238 words per minute is the average silent reading speed for non-fiction in English found by a 2019 meta-analysis of 190 studies. Speaking time uses 150 words per minute, a comfortable pace for presentations and voice-overs.
Technical or dense text is read more slowly (150–200 wpm); light fiction faster (260+ wpm).
Examples
- Blog post
- A 1,200-word article at 238 wpm takes about 5 minutes to read — a typical “5 min read” label.
- Video script
- A 3-minute video at 150 wpm needs a script of roughly 450 words.
Common uses
- Adding “x min read” labels to blog posts
- Timing speeches and presentations
- Writing voice-over and podcast scripts to length
Privacy & security
This tool runs entirely in your browser. Your files and text are never uploaded to our servers — processing happens on your device and results are created locally. How each tool handles files
Frequently asked questions
What reading speed should I use?
238 wpm for general adult readers, 180–200 wpm for technical material, and around 150 wpm for anything read aloud.
Are images or code blocks included?
No. Only words are counted. Add time manually for images, charts or code that readers will study.
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