Reading Time Calculator
Estimate how long your text takes to read silently.
Estimate how long your text takes to read silently. Choose a reading speed to match your audience — slower for technical material, faster for casual content.
Estimated reading time
0 sec
0 words at 238 words per minute
Private by design. Your text is processed entirely in your browser — it is never uploaded, logged, or stored on a server.
How reading time is calculated
Reading time is the word count divided by a reading speed in words per minute. The default of 238 wpm reflects the average silent reading speed for adults reading non-fiction. Technical or dense material is often slower (around 200 wpm), while light content can be faster.
Blogs and publishers show reading time to set expectations and improve engagement. A clear "5 min read" label helps readers decide to start.
Examples
| Example | Input | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Short post | ~250 words | ~1 min read |
| Article | ~1,200 words | ~5 min read |
Frequently asked questions
What reading speed should I use?
238 words per minute is a solid default for general audiences. Use ~200 wpm for technical content and up to ~300 wpm for very casual reading.
Is reading time exact?
It's an estimate. Actual reading time varies by reader, content difficulty, and formatting, but the figure is a reliable guide.
How long does it take to read 1,000 words?
About 4 minutes at an average reading speed of 238 words per minute. Dense or technical text reads slower (around 5 minutes at 200 wpm).
What is the average reading speed?
Around 238 words per minute for silent adult reading of non-fiction. Use the Slow / Average / Fast presets to match your audience.