Reading Time Calculator
Estimate how long any text takes to read or read aloud, with an adjustable words-per-minute speed.
Estimated reading time
0 sec
Paste some text to get started.
- Words
- 0
- Characters
- 0
- Sentences
- 0
- Paragraphs
- 0
- Speaking time
- 0 sec
- Pages (A4, 500 w)
- 0
How long it takes at other speeds
| Audience | Speed | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Slow reader | 150 wpm | 0 sec |
| Average adult | 225 wpm | 0 sec |
| Fast reader | 300 wpm | 0 sec |
| Read aloud | 140 wpm | 0 sec |
How it works
Paste your text and the reading time calculator counts the words and divides them by a reading speed in words per minute (wpm). The default is 225 wpm, the typical silent reading speed of an adult; pick a preset or type your own number to model a slower audience, a fast skimmer, or a spoken script at 140 wpm. The comparison table shows the same text at four speeds at once, so you can quote a realistic range instead of a single guess, and the page-count estimate assumes roughly 500 words per A4 page.
Everything is calculated in your browser with plain JavaScript — your draft is never uploaded, stored or sent to a server, which makes it safe for unpublished articles, scripts and confidential documents. Use Copy summary or Download summary .txt to keep the numbers, for example to add a "5 min read" label to a blog post.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to read 1000 words?
At the average adult silent reading speed of 225 words per minute, 1000 words take about 4 minutes 27 seconds. A slow reader at 150 wpm needs roughly 6 minutes 40 seconds, a fast reader at 300 wpm about 3 minutes 20 seconds, and reading the same text aloud at 140 wpm takes around 7 minutes 9 seconds.
What words-per-minute speed should I use?
Use 225 wpm for general web and blog content, the figure most "x min read" labels are based on. Drop to 150 to 180 wpm for technical, legal or non-native-language audiences, raise it to 300 to 450 wpm for skimming, and use 140 wpm when the text will be spoken, such as a podcast intro, video script or presentation.
Is my text uploaded anywhere?
No. The calculator counts words and divides them by your chosen speed entirely in your browser with JavaScript. Nothing is sent to a server, stored or logged, so it is safe to paste unpublished articles, client documents and confidential scripts.