Reading Time Calculator
Estimate how long it takes to read any text. Enter a word count or paste your text directly. Also shows speaking time and page count.
Reading Time Estimator
Reading Time
4 minutes
at 238 wpm
Speaking Time
8 minutes
at 130 wpm
Pages
~4
at 250 words/page
Common Content Reading Times
Based on average reading speed of 238 wpm
| Content Type | Words | Reading Time |
|---|---|---|
| Tweet / social post | 30 | Less than 1 minute |
| Email (short) | 150 | Less than 1 minute |
| Blog post (short) | 800 | 3 minutes |
| Blog post (long) | 2,000 | 8 minutes |
| Short story | 7,500 | 32 minutes |
| Novella | 40,000 | 2 hr 48 min |
| Novel (average) | 90,000 | 6 hr 18 min |
Did You Know?
The average adult reads 238 words per minute
Speed readers can reach 600–1,000 wpm
Children read at 100–150 wpm
The average novel takes 6–8 hours to read
Medium.com uses 265 wpm for its reading time estimates
How Long Does It Take to Read?
Reading speed varies significantly between individuals and depends on factors such as the complexity of the text, familiarity with the subject matter, and reading purpose. Research by Brysbaert (2019) found that the average adult reads approximately 238 words per minute when reading silently for comprehension. This is the figure used as the default in this calculator.
For presentations and speeches, speaking speed is typically slower — around 125–150 words per minute for clear, measured delivery. A 10-minute speech therefore requires approximately 1,250–1,500 words. For audiobooks, the average narrator reads at around 150–160 words per minute.
Reading time estimates are particularly useful for bloggers and content creators. Research consistently shows that articles between 1,500 and 2,500 words perform best for SEO and reader engagement. Displaying a reading time estimate on your articles (as Medium and many news sites do) has been shown to increase click-through rates, as readers can make an informed decision about whether they have time to read the full piece.