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Reading Time Calculator

Work out how long a text takes to read silently, or to say out loud as a speech or video script.

  • Free
  • No sign-up
  • Runs in your browser
Input
wpm

Average adult: ~238 wpm

wpm

Presentations: 130–150 wpm

Reading time
0 sec
0 words
Speaking time (out loud)
0 sec
Skimming (≈ 450 wpm)
0 sec

Everything you type is processed in your browser. Nothing you enter is sent to our servers or stored by us.

How to use the Reading Time Calculator

  1. Paste your text, or enter a word count.
  2. Adjust the reading and speaking speeds if you like.
  3. Read the reading time, speaking time and skimming time.

What does this tool do?

Adults read silently at about 238 words per minute on average for non-fiction, according to a large review of reading-speed studies. Speaking is slower — presentations and narration usually run at 130–150 words per minute.

Why use it?

  • Show “5 min read” labels on articles.
  • Time speeches, presentations and video scripts.
  • Plan podcast and voice-over length.

Example

A 1,500-word article takes about 6 minutes 18 seconds to read at 238 wpm, and about 10 minutes 43 seconds to read aloud at 140 wpm.

The formula

Reading time = words ÷ words per minute

Privacy

Everything you type is processed in your browser. Nothing you enter is sent to our servers or stored by us. There's no account to create and nothing to install.

Last reviewed by the M2Toolkit team.

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