Tools
Reading time calculator
Work out how many minutes a text takes to read, ideal for articles and blogs.
About this tool
Adding “5 min read” at the top of an article helps readers decide whether to read it now or save it for later, and many blogs, newsletters and publishing platforms show it by default. This calculator gives you that figure for any text: a blog post, a guide, an internal report or a book chapter. It is also a quick way to see whether something meant to be read on a phone has grown too long.
Paste the full text into the box. The reading time is highlighted at the top, in minutes and seconds, along with the pace used to work it out. Just below you will see words, characters, sentences and paragraphs, and further down the speaking time in case you are recording it too. Press “Copy stats” to keep the figures, and “Clear” to empty the box for the next text.
The estimate uses 230 words per minute, a typical silent reading speed for adults. It is only a guide: technical writing or text full of figures and tables takes longer, and time spent looking at images or charts is not included. The text is analysed only in your browser and is never sent to a server.
How is reading time calculated?
- Paste the full text into the box: an article, a guide, an email or a chapter.
- Read the highlighted reading time at the top, in minutes and seconds.
- Check the word, character, sentence and paragraph counts below, plus the speaking time if you will record it or read it aloud.
- Click “Copy stats” to keep the figures or “Clear” to analyse another text.
The formula: words divided by reading speed
Reading time is the number of words divided by reading speed. This tool uses 230 words per minute, an average silent reading speed for adults. So a 1,000-word text takes about 4 minutes 21 seconds to read, and a 2,300-word text about 10 minutes.
For speaking time it uses 150 words per minute, a clear speaking pace like that of a video or presentation. The same 1,000 words read aloud take about 6 minutes 40 seconds. It is handy for working out how much script fits into a video, a podcast or a time-limited talk.
It is an estimate: everyone reads at their own pace, and technical text with figures, tables or unusual vocabulary is read more slowly. It does not include time spent looking at images or charts either.
Why does reading time matter?
On a blog, showing “5 min read” at the top tells readers what to expect and helps them decide whether to read now or save it for later. In a newsletter or sales email, it helps you check the message has not grown longer than people are willing to read on their phones.
It also helps with content planning: if a how-to guide comes out at 25 minutes, it may be worth splitting it into several pieces or adding a table of contents; if a product page takes 15 seconds to read, it may be missing the information buyers need.
If you write for the web, remember that length is not a goal in itself: a text should be as long as it needs to be to answer what the reader is looking for, no more and no less.
Frequently asked questions
How many words per minute does the average person read?
Adults reading general text silently manage about 200 to 260 words per minute on average. This calculator uses 230, a middle value.
How long does it take to read 1,000 words?
About 4 minutes 20 seconds at 230 words per minute. For technical or dense writing, allow 5 to 6 minutes.
Should I show reading time on my blog?
It usually helps: readers know what they are committing to and are more likely to start. Round to the nearest minute and place it near the date or author.
Why does my reading time differ from other sites?
Each tool uses its own speed, typically between 200 and 265 words per minute, and some add a few seconds per image. Here you always see the exact pace used.