Reading Time Calculator
Paste or type your text to estimate reading time at any speed — instantly, with nothing sent to a server.
Words
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Characters
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Reading time
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Speaking time
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How to use the reading time calculator
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1
Paste or type your text
Drop your article, post, or script into the box above.
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2
Pick a reading speed
Choose the words-per-minute rate that best matches your audience.
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Check the estimate
Reading and speaking time update instantly alongside the word and character count.
Example use cases
Blog posts & articles
Show readers an estimated reading time before they click in.
Newsletters & emails
Check that an email stays within a quick, skimmable reading window.
Scripts & presentations
Use speaking time to keep a talk or video script within a time limit.
Course & lesson content
Estimate how long students will need to read a passage or handout.
Frequently asked questions
How is reading time calculated?
Word count is divided by your chosen reading speed (words per minute) to estimate reading time. The default, 200 wpm, is a common average adult silent-reading speed.
What reading speed should I use?
Use 150-200 wpm for general audiences or dense material, and 250-300 wpm if your readers are likely to skim. News and blog platforms commonly use around 200-238 wpm.
What is speaking time based on?
Speaking time is estimated at 130 words per minute, a typical pace for reading a script or speech aloud.
Is my text sent to a server?
No. Every estimate updates entirely in your browser as you type — nothing is transmitted or logged.