Text & Web Utilities
Reading Time Calculator
Estimate how long text takes to read.
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About the Reading Time Calculator
Estimate reading time free from a word count — 1,000 words is roughly a 5-minute read at the average 200 words per minute. Adjust the speed for your audience and also get the speaking time (about 130 wpm), which makes this doubly useful for speeches, presentations, podcasts, and video scripts. Bloggers use it to add accurate “X min read” labels that set reader expectations.
How to use the Reading Time Calculator
- 01Enter the word count.
- 02Adjust the reading speed if needed (200 wpm default).
- 03See estimated reading and speaking time.
Frequently asked questions
What's the average reading speed?
Adults read roughly 200–250 words per minute. Speaking aloud is slower, around 130 wpm.
How many words is a 5-minute read?
At 200 wpm, about 1,000 words.
How many words is a 10-minute speech?
About 1,300 words at a natural speaking pace of ~130 wpm. Slow down for emphasis and you'll land closer to 1,200.