Reading Time Calculator
This reading time calculator tells you how many minutes a text takes to read silently and how long you would need to read it aloud. Paste your text, and you also get the word count and an estimate of the number of pages.
Source: Brysbaert (2019): How many words do we read per minute? Journal of Memory and Language 109 – 238 words per minute (non-fiction, silent reading). Updated: .
How it is calculated
Reading time is the number of words divided by the reading speed. Silent reading of non-fiction averages about 238 words per minute, so a text of 1,000 words takes roughly four minutes.
How it is calculated
- Words: the text is split by the Unicode rules for word boundaries. Numbers and punctuation without letters do not count as words.
- Reading time: words ÷ reading speed × 60 seconds. The range shows the time at a quarter faster and a quarter slower reading.
- Speaking time: the same calculation with the speaking speed, about 130 words per minute for a calm presentation. Speaking is slower than reading because pauses and emphasis take time.
- Pages: 500 words correspond to a single-spaced page, 250 words to a manuscript page with double spacing.
Adjusting the speed
If you read more slowly, for example technical texts or in a foreign language, enter a lower speed; if you skim, a higher one. For more on reading faster, see the speed reading trainer; characters and words are counted by the character counter, and the most frequent terms of a text appear in the keyword density checker.
Frequently asked questions
How do you calculate the reading time of a text?
Divide the number of words by the reading speed in words per minute. With 1,000 words and 238 words per minute that is a little over four minutes. The tool does this instantly for any pasted text.
How fast does the average person read?
Silent reading of non-fiction averages about 238 words per minute, a little more for novels. The spread is wide; technical texts and foreign languages are read more slowly.
How long does reading aloud take?
Spoken delivery is about 130 words per minute, up to 150 in fast everyday conversation. Speeches and videos therefore need a lower speed than reading.
How many words fit on a page?
A single-spaced page holds around 500 words, a double-spaced manuscript page about 250. The exact number depends on font, margins and line spacing.
Is my text stored?
No. The calculation runs entirely in your browser; the text is neither sent, nor stored, nor written into the address bar.
Sources and legal basis
- Brysbaert (2019): How many words do we read per minute? Journal of Memory and Language 109 – 238 words per minute (non-fiction, silent reading)
- Unicode Standard Annex #29 – Text Segmentation (Wortgrenzen)
As of: · Editorial policy
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