Reading Time Calculator
Paste any text to see how long it takes to read. Adjust the reading speed to match your audience.
🔒 Your text is processed entirely in your browser and is never uploaded.
How reading time is calculated
Reading time is simply your word count divided by a reading speed in words per minute (wpm). The tricky part is the speed, because it varies a lot: adults read silently at roughly 238 wpm on average, but a careful reader of technical material may sit closer to 180, while a skimmer can clear 400+. That is why this calculator lets you choose a named speed instead of pretending one number fits everyone.
Which speed should I pick?
- Average (238 wpm) — the sensible default for general web and blog content.
- Slow (150) / ESL (120) — for dense material or readers in a second language.
- Fast (300) / Skim (400) — for practiced readers or scanning.
FAQ
What reading speed does the “min read” label on blogs use?
Most publishers assume 200–250 wpm. The 238 wpm average used here lands squarely in that range, so your estimate will match what readers expect.
Is my text stored or sent anywhere?
No. All counting happens in your browser with JavaScript. Nothing is uploaded, logged, or saved.
How is this different from a bare reading-time tool?
You can change the reading speed, see the spoken-aloud equivalent, and copy a ready-to-paste “min read” snippet — all without ads jammed into the answer.