Reading Time Calculator
Estimate how long a text takes to read or speak
Reading Time
Speaking Time
Text Summary
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Use this tool →How to Use
Add Your Text
Paste your article into the text box, or switch to Word Count mode and enter (or pick) a number directly.
See the Estimates
Reading times for slow (150 wpm), average (238 wpm), and fast (350 wpm) readers update instantly as you type.
Plan Speaking Too
The Speaking Time card estimates delivery at conversation, presentation, and audiobook paces for speeches and scripts.
About This Tool
Estimate how long a text takes to read or speak
Reading speed varies by reader: the commonly cited average for silent reading of non-fiction is around 238 words per minute, with a typical range of 150–350 wpm. This calculator shows all three so you can communicate realistic expectations for any piece of writing.
Speaking is slower than reading — most presenters deliver 100–130 words per minute. Use the speaking estimates to check that your talk fits its time slot before you rehearse.
Instant Word Analysis
Words, characters, and sentences are counted live as you paste or type, with no button to press.
Three Reader Speeds
Slow, average, and fast reading estimates (150 / 238 / 350 wpm) reflect the real spread of adult reading speeds.
Speaking Estimates
Separate delivery estimates for conversation, presentations, and audiobook narration help script writers hit time targets.
Learn More
Blog Posts & SEO — Displaying an estimated reading time (like "4 min read") reduces bounce rate and sets reader expectations.
Speeches & Presentations — Check that your script fits a 5-minute lightning talk or a 20-minute keynote before you rehearse.
Editors & Students — Verify essay length requirements and compare reading loads across drafts in seconds.
Frequently Asked Questions
Authoritative Sources
Standards and research behind this tool, from official specifications to peer-reviewed studies.
Readability research dates to Rudolf Flesch's 1948 yardstick, which combined sentence length and syllable count into a score still used across publishing and law. Modern reading-time estimates build on Brysbaert's 2019 meta-analysis of 190 studies, which found that silent reading of non-fiction averages about 238 words per minute. Character counting follows the Unicode Standard, which defines exactly how letters, digits, emoji, and combining marks are counted as code points.
Flesch (1948) - A New Readability Yardstick
Rudolf Flesch's 1948 paper introducing the reading-ease formula still used today.
www.jstor.org
Brysbaert (2019) - Reading Rate Meta-Analysis
A 2019 meta-analysis of 190 studies measuring average silent reading speed (about 238 words per minute).
doi.org
The Unicode Standard
The Unicode Standard that defines how characters and emoji are encoded and counted.
www.unicode.org