Reading Time Calculator

Estimate how long a piece of text takes to read

About Reading Time

This calculator estimates how long it takes to read a piece of text based on its word count and your reading speed. It also estimates how long the same text would take to read aloud at an average speaking pace.

How Reading Time is Calculated

  • Reading time: word count divided by your reading speed in words per minute
  • Speaking time: word count divided by 130 words per minute, an average speaking pace
  • Format: minutes and seconds (for example, 7.5 minutes becomes "7m 30s")

Average Reading Speeds

Most adults read between 200 and 300 words per minute for general content. Technical or unfamiliar material is usually read more slowly, while skimming can be much faster. Adjust the reading speed to match your own pace for a more accurate estimate.

Common Uses

  • Estimate reading time for articles and blog posts
  • Plan how long a speech or presentation will take
  • Set expectations for newsletters and emails
  • Gauge study time for documents and reports

Note: This calculator provides estimates based on average reading and speaking speeds. Actual reading and speaking times vary by person, content complexity, and context.