Reading Time Calculator
Paste text to see the word count and how long it takes to read and to say aloud.
How to use the Reading Time Calculator
- Paste or type your text.
- Pick a reading speed.
- See the word count, reading time and speaking time.
About the Reading Time Calculator
The Reading Time Calculator estimates how long a piece of text takes to read and to read aloud. Paste your text and it counts the words and converts them into minutes and seconds, using an adjustable reading speed — slow, average or fast — plus a separate speaking time for scripts and voiceovers.
It is handy for adding a "5 min read" label to a blog post, sizing an article to a target length, or timing a speech or video script. The default average of about 200 words per minute reflects typical adult silent reading; speaking is slower, around 130 words per minute, which is why the two figures differ. Everything runs in your browser, so you can paste freely. To dig into the numbers, the word counter and readability checker go further.
Frequently asked questions
How is reading time calculated?
It divides the word count by a reading speed in words per minute. The default is about 200 wpm for average adult silent reading; you can switch to slow or fast.
Why is speaking time longer than reading time?
People read silently faster than they speak. Reading uses your chosen speed; speaking time uses about 130 words per minute, which is a natural spoken pace.
What reading speed should I use?
Average (200 wpm) suits general web content. Use slow for dense or technical text and fast for skimmable, familiar material.
Is it exact?
It is an estimate. Actual time varies with the reader, the difficulty of the text and any images or formatting, but it is a reliable guide for labels and planning.
Is my text uploaded?
No. The calculation runs entirely in your browser; nothing you paste is sent to a server.