Reading Time Calculator
Paste text to estimate reading time at your pace, plus how long it takes to read aloud. Free and runs in your browser.
Report a problemEstimates assume steady reading with no stops. Dense or technical text reads slower; skimming reads faster.
How to use
- Paste or type your text into the box — an article, essay, script or social post.
- Pick a reading speed: slow, average or fast words per minute.
- Read the result: the big figure is your estimated reading time, and the line below shows the word count and how long it would take to read aloud.
FAQ
How is reading time calculated?
We count the words in your text — anything separated by spaces or line breaks — and divide by your chosen reading speed in words per minute. The average adult silent reading speed is about 238 words per minute, so that is the default. Slower readers and dense material sit closer to 150, while fast skimmers reach 400 or more. The read-aloud line uses 130 words per minute, a comfortable speaking pace, because we talk more slowly than we read.
Is anything I paste uploaded?
No — it runs in your browser. Your text is counted with plain arithmetic on your own device; nothing is sent to a server or stored anywhere. The calculator works offline once the page has loaded, so even long documents stay completely private.
Why is the read-aloud time longer than the reading time?
We read silently faster than we speak. Most people read around 200 to 240 words a minute but speak nearer 130, so reading a passage out loud — for a speech, video script or audiobook — takes noticeably longer than reading it to yourself. Use the read-aloud figure when you are timing something you will say out loud.