This reading time calculator estimates how long your text takes to read silently. It is perfect for adding a “5 min read” label to a blog post, sizing a newsletter, or checking whether an article fits your readers’ attention span.
Paste your text or enter a word count, then tune the reading speed to match your audience.
How to use the reading time calculator
- Paste your article, or type its word count.
- Adjust the words-per-minute slider for your readers.
- Read the estimated reading time, and use it as an on-page “X min read” label.
How reading time is calculated
Adults read silently at roughly 238 words per minute on average, according to large research reviews. Dividing your word count by that pace gives the reading time. Dense, technical or unfamiliar material reads more slowly, so lower the speed for specialist audiences and raise it for light, familiar content.
Reading time by length
| Word count | Approx. reading time |
|---|---|
| 500 words | ~2 minutes |
| 1,000 words | ~4 minutes |
| 1,500 words | ~6 minutes |
| 3,000 words | ~13 minutes |
Based on an average silent reading speed of about 238 words per minute.
Reading time vs. speaking time
People read silently much faster than they speak. If you are timing something to be read aloud — a speech or voice-over — use the words to minutes converter instead, which is based on a slower spoken pace of around 130 words per minute.