Readability Score Checker
A readability score checker is a tool that estimates how hard a text is to read from sentence length and word…
Free reading time calculator
Paste any text to estimate how long it takes to read silently or say out loud.
Result
0Words
0Reading time
0Speaking time
Times are estimates. Real reading speed depends on the reader and how complex the text is.
The free reading time calculator runs in your browser, needs no sign-up and never sends what you type anywhere.
Quick answer
This reading time calculator divides your word count by a reading speed to estimate minutes. Adults read non-fiction silently at about 238 words per minute on average, and people speak at roughly 130 to 160 words per minute. So a 1,500 word article takes about 6 to 7 minutes to read.
What is a reading time calculator?
A reading time calculator is a tool that estimates how long a text takes to read. Reading time equals the number of words divided by words per minute, plus a few seconds for each image, and speaking time uses a slower words per minute rate.
How do you use the Reading Time Calculator?
- Paste your article, script or email into the text box.
- Keep 238 words per minute for silent reading, or change it for your audience.
- Set a speaking speed, such as 150 for presentations or 130 for slow narration.
- Add the number of images if you want a few seconds counted for each one.
- Copy the "min read" label or HTML snippet into your blog template.
How many words per minute does the average person read?
The average adult reads non-fiction silently at about 238 words per minute, according to a 2019 meta-analysis of 190 studies by Marc Brysbaert, and fiction at about 260. Skimmers read much faster, and people reading technical or second language text read slower, so adjust the speed for your audience.
How long does it take to read 1,000 words?
Reading 1,000 words takes about 4 minutes at 238 words per minute, and speaking them takes about 7 minutes at 150 words per minute. Dense technical text can take twice as long because readers pause to reread.
Does showing reading time help SEO?
A reading time label is not a Google ranking factor. It can help visitors decide to start reading and set expectations, which supports the people first experience described in Google's helpful content guidance. Keep the estimate honest so readers trust it.
Quick reference
| Words | Reading time (238 wpm) | Speaking time (150 wpm) |
|---|---|---|
| 300 | 1 min 16 s | 2 min |
| 500 | 2 min 6 s | 3 min 20 s |
| 1,000 | 4 min 12 s | 6 min 40 s |
| 1,500 | 6 min 18 s | 10 min |
| 2,500 | 10 min 30 s | 16 min 40 s |
| 5,000 | 21 min | 33 min 20 s |
Worked example
Example
Example: a 1,800 word guide with 6 images. Reading time is 1,800 divided by 238, which is 7.56 minutes, plus 6 images at 10 seconds each (1 minute), so about 8.6 minutes, shown as "9 min read". Speaking it at 150 words per minute takes 12 minutes.
Frequently asked questions
How is reading time calculated?
Count the words in the text and divide by an average reading speed in words per minute. This tool uses 238 words per minute by default, adds an optional allowance for images, and rounds up to the next whole minute for the label so the estimate is never too short.
What speaking speed should I use for a speech or video?
Use about 150 words per minute for a presentation or YouTube script, 130 for a slow, clear narration and around 160 or more for a fast conversational podcast. Read a paragraph aloud with a timer to find your own pace.
Why add time for images?
Readers spend a few seconds looking at charts, screenshots and photos. Some blogging platforms add about 10 to 12 seconds per image. This tool adds 10 seconds per image by default, and you can set the image count to zero to ignore them.
How do I show reading time on a WordPress post?
Copy the HTML snippet from this tool into the post or a custom HTML block, or use a reading time plugin that calculates it automatically for every post. Place it near the title or byline where readers look before they start.
Does the calculator count numbers and links as words?
Yes. Every group of letters or digits counts as one word, including numbers such as 2026. Web addresses split into several words, so remove long URLs and code blocks first if you want a closer estimate for normal reading.
Is my text uploaded anywhere?
No. The word count and timing are calculated by JavaScript in your browser. Nothing you paste leaves your device, so you can check unpublished drafts and client work safely.
Sources
Facts checked against these official pages. Read how I check facts in my editorial policy.
Related free tools
All 104 toolsCharacter Counter
A character counter is a tool that counts every letter, number, space and symbol in a text. Characters with…
Sentence Counter
A sentence counter is a tool that splits text into sentences at full stops, question marks and exclamation…
Want a full audit instead?
Send your website and I will check it for you, free.