Reading Time Calculator: How Long Does Your Text Take to Read?

How reading time is calculated

Reading time is the word count divided by your reading speed in words per minute. A large analysis of reading research found an average of about 238 words per minute for silent reading of non-fiction by adults, and a little higher for fiction. At that pace, a 1,000-word article takes about 4 minutes and 12 seconds.

Speed depends on the reader and the text. People read dense technical material, legal text and unfamiliar subjects more slowly, and they read light fiction or familiar topics faster. Reading on a screen and reading in a second language are usually slower. That is why the tool shows five speeds, from careful reading at 150 words per minute to skimming at 400.

How to use the reading time calculator

1. Paste your text into the box, or type a word count into the number field.
2. Pick a reading speed, or keep the average adult speed of 238 words per minute.
3. Read the reading time and the rounded minute count, ready for a min read label.
4. Compare the table to see how long the same text takes at other speeds.

Why show a reading time on articles

• A min read label sets expectations and helps readers decide whether to start now or save the page for later.
• It can encourage people to stay, because a short time feels easy to commit to.
• Editors use it to check that a piece fits a newsletter or a slot in a print layout.
• Teachers use it to set reading assignments and to estimate how long a class will need.

Reading speed for different readers

Children, new readers and people reading in a language they are still learning often read at 100 to 150 words per minute. Many adults read between 200 and 300 words per minute. Speed readers claim much higher numbers, but studies suggest that comprehension drops when reading is pushed far beyond a natural pace. For proofreading, slower is better, and for scanning an email or news page, faster is fine.

Tips for estimating reading time

• Use the average speed for general articles, and the slower speed for technical or academic writing.
• Round up to the next whole minute for a min read label, as most websites do.
• Images, code samples and tables add time that a plain word count does not show, so add a little for illustrated pages.
• If you need the time for a spoken version, use the Speech Time Calculator instead.

How to show reading time on your website

Most publishers round the time up to the next whole minute and show it near the title, in the form 5 min read. Use one speed across the site so that numbers are consistent, and recalculate when you edit an article. Count only the body text and not the menus, comments or sidebars, and add a little extra for pages with large tables, code samples or many images, since readers spend time on those too.

Reading time at the average adult speed (238 wpm)

Frequently Asked Questions