Reading Time Calculator
Paste your text and pick a reading speed to estimate how long it takes to read — handy for blog posts and articles.
Estimate reading time
Reading time
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Words
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How reading time is calculated
Reading time is simply the word count divided by your reading speed in words per minute (wpm). The average adult reads silently at about 200–250 wpm, so a 1,000-word article takes roughly 4–5 minutes.
Reading speeds vary
| Reader | Speed | 1,000 words |
|---|---|---|
| Slow / careful | 150 wpm | ~6 min 40s |
| Average | 200 wpm | ~5 min |
| Fast | 300 wpm | ~3 min 20s |
Time to read 1,000 words at different speeds.
Frequently asked questions
How is reading time calculated?
Divide the number of words by the reading speed in words per minute. At 200 wpm, a 600-word text takes about 3 minutes.
What is the average reading speed?
Most adults read silently at around 200–250 words per minute, though it varies with text difficulty and familiarity.