Writing Tools
Reading Time Calculator
Estimate how long a piece of text will take to read based on word count and reading speed.
200 wpm
0
Words
< 1 min
Reading time
How the Reading Time Calculator works
Paste your text and adjust the reading speed slider to match your audience. The calculator counts words and divides by your chosen words-per-minute rate to estimate reading time.
Frequently asked questions
What reading speed should I use?
200 words per minute is a common average for adults reading silently — adjust the slider if your audience reads faster or slower.
Does this work for any language?
It counts words separated by spaces, so it works well for English and similar languages, but may be less accurate for languages without spaces between words.
Guides that cover this
Simple Tools That Make Your Writing ClearerReading time, speaking time, and readability — quick checks that catch what a spell-checker never will.How Reading Time Estimates Are Actually CalculatedHow a word count converts to an estimated reading time, and the assumptions behind the commonly used reading speed figure.Why the Estimated Reading Time Didn't Match How Long It Actually TookThe common reasons an estimated reading time diverges from someone's actual real reading experience for a piece of text.Reading Time vs. Word Count: Why Reading Time Is More Useful for Content PlanningWhy reading time is a more directly useful metric than raw word count for both readers and content creators.How to Use the Reading Time CalculatorA quick walkthrough of estimating how long any text will take to read.Reading Time Calculator: How It Works and How to Use ItA quick guide to the reading time calculator — what it calculates, how the math works, and tips for getting an accurate result.