Reading Time Calculator
Paste text to estimate how long it takes to read silently or say aloud. Choose a reading or speaking pace, or enter your own words per minute.
Reading Time Calculator
Estimate how long your text takes to read silently or to say aloud, at a pace you choose.
Paste text to estimate reading time.
Your text is processed in your browser and is not uploaded.
How it works
- Type or paste your text. The estimate updates as you type.
- Pick “Reading (238)” for silent reading or “Speaking (150)” for a spoken presentation, or enter any pace from 1 to 2000 words per minute.
- The estimated time is shown to the second; “Rounded up” gives the whole number of minutes to plan for.
Counting rules
- Words are counted exactly as in the Word Counter, so standalone punctuation is not a word.
- 238 words per minute is a typical silent reading speed for adult non-fiction (Brysbaert, 2019), and 150 is a typical speaking pace. Both are approximations; real speeds vary with the reader and the text.
- Time is words ÷ pace, rounded to the nearest second. Estimates under half a second show as “Under 1 sec”.
- Rounded up is always at least 1 min.
- Your text is processed in your browser and is not uploaded.
Worked example: 500 words at 238 words per minute take 2 min 6 sec to read, which rounds up to 3 min.