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Reading Time Calculator
A free tool to estimate how long it takes to read or speak any text. Paste your blog post, article, or essay and get an instant reading time estimate.
Last updated: June 2026 · Free · No sign-up required
Estimates
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Words
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Min Read
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Min Speak
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Characters
Quick reference
| Word count | Reading (238 wpm) | Speaking (150 wpm) |
|---|---|---|
| 500 | ~2 min | ~3.5 min |
| 1,000 | ~4 min | ~7 min |
| 2,000 | ~8.5 min | ~13 min |
| 5,000 | ~21 min | ~33 min |
Interpretation guide
| Audience pace | WPM |
|---|---|
| Skimming | 400–700 |
| Average adult (non-fiction) | 238 |
| Technical/dense material | 100–150 |
| Speaking aloud | 130–160 |
Formula & methodology
Formula: Reading minutes = words ÷ 238; speaking minutes = words ÷ 150
- Paste your text — the live counter splits it into words.
- Reading time divides by 238 wpm (the meta-analysis average for adult silent reading); speaking time by 150 wpm.
Worked example: a 1,200-word article reads in ~5 minutes and takes ~8 minutes to deliver as a speech — the dual figure is why this tool serves both bloggers and presenters.
Frequently asked questions
How is reading time calculated?
Word count ÷ 238 words per minute — the average adult silent-reading speed for non-fiction found in Brysbaert’s 2019 meta-analysis of 190 studies. Blogs commonly round to 200–250 wpm.
How long does a 1,000-word article take to read?
About 4 minutes silently, or 6.5–7 minutes read aloud. Dense technical content can double that; light listicles read faster.
Why show speaking time too?
Presentations and scripts run at speech pace — 130–160 wpm. A 5-minute talk is roughly 700–750 words; paste your script to check it fits the slot.
Does "X min read" affect engagement?
Yes — displayed read times set expectations and measurably reduce bounce on long-form content. Medium popularised it; most CMSs now compute it the same way this tool does.
Whats the ideal blog post reading time?
For SEO-targeted posts, 7–9 minutes (≈1,700–2,100 words) correlates with strong performance; for newsletters 2–4 minutes keeps completion high. Match length to intent rather than padding.
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