Reading Time Calculator
Estimate how long it takes to read any article or essay.
The Reading Time Calculator estimates how many minutes a piece of text takes to read — the number publishers print next to articles and students need before a deadline. Paste your draft and instantly see reading times at average (200 wpm), slow (130 wpm) and fast (300 wpm) speeds.
Knowing reading time changes how you edit: a 7-minute average read might be perfect for a newsletter but too long for a landing page. Bloggers use it to label posts ('5 min read'), speakers use it to time scripts (about 130 wpm for speech), and students use it to plan before an exam.
The estimate divides word count by reading speed — plain English prose at 200 words per minute is the accepted average, with technical or dense text reading slower. Everything is counted locally in your browser.
Words
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Average reader (200 wpm)
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Slow reader (130 wpm)
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Fast reader (300 wpm)
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Reading speed varies with content difficulty — 200 words per minute is the common average for adult readers of plain prose. Technical or dense text often runs slower.
How to use the Reading Time Calculator
- Paste the full text of the article, essay or script.
- Read the word count.
- Check the average-reader estimate (200 wpm).
- Compare with slow and fast estimates to get a range.
- Use the figure in your post label, speaker notes or study plan.
Frequently asked questions
How is reading time calculated?
By dividing the word count by a words-per-minute rate: 200 wpm is the common average for adult readers of plain prose, 130 wpm suits slow or careful reading and spoken delivery, and 300 wpm is a fast skim.
Why do reading estimates differ between sites?
Sites use different base speeds (150–250 wpm), round differently, and may exclude code, links or images. This calculator shows a range from three speeds so you can pick the figure that fits your audience.
What reading speed should I assume for my audience?
For general web content use the 200 wpm average. Technical documentation, academic text and non-native readers skew slower — use 130–170 wpm. Marketing copy and news skim faster — closer to 250–300 wpm.
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