How is reading time calculated?

Reading time is calculated by dividing total word count by reading speed in words per minute (wpm). For example, a 1,000-word article at 238 wpm takes about 4 minutes 12 seconds. The formula is: Reading Time (minutes) = Word Count ÷ Words Per Minute.

What is the average reading speed?

The average adult reads at about 238 words per minute (wpm) for non-fiction and 260 wpm for fiction. Slow readers average around 150 wpm, while fast readers reach 350 wpm. Trained speed readers can exceed 600 wpm, though comprehension may decrease at very high speeds.

How fast should I speak during a presentation?

The ideal speaking rate for presentations is 130–150 words per minute. This pace allows your audience to follow along and absorb key points. TED Talks average around 160 wpm. Slow down for complex or technical material (100–120 wpm) and speed up slightly for stories or lighter content (150–170 wpm).

How many words are on a page?

A standard manuscript page contains approximately 250 words (double-spaced, 12pt font). A single-spaced page holds about 500 words. A typical novel has 250–300 words per page. This calculator uses 250 words per page as the standard.

How long does it take to read 1,000 words?

At the average reading speed of 238 wpm, it takes about 4 minutes and 12 seconds to read 1,000 words. A slow reader (150 wpm) would take about 6 minutes 40 seconds, while a fast reader (350 wpm) would finish in about 2 minutes 51 seconds.

Why do bloggers show estimated reading time?

Displaying estimated reading time helps readers decide whether to commit to an article. Studies show it increases engagement — Medium popularized this feature and found it improved reading rates. It sets expectations and reduces bounce rates by giving readers a clear time commitment upfront.

How long should a blog post be?

The ideal blog post length depends on your goal. Short posts (300–600 words, 1–3 min read) work for news and updates. Medium posts (1,000–1,500 words, 4–6 min read) suit how-to guides. Long-form content (2,000–3,000+ words, 8–12 min read) performs best for SEO and in-depth topics. HubSpot found that posts of 2,100–2,400 words tend to rank highest in search.

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Reading Time Calculator

Reading time is estimated by dividing word count by reading speed in words per minute (wpm). The average adult reads at 238 wpm, so a 1,000-word article takes about 4.2 minutes to read. Speaking time for presentations uses a slower rate of 130–150 wpm. Page count assumes 250 words per standard manuscript page.

Estimate how long it takes to read or speak your text. Paste text or enter a word count, adjust reading speed with presets (slow, average, fast, speed reader), and get reading time, speaking time, word count, character count, and page count. Perfect for bloggers, students, and presenters.

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Input

Reading Speed

Custom:words per minute

Speaking Speed (for presentations)

words per minute

Average speaking speed is 130–150 wpm. Presentations are typically slower at 100–130 wpm.

Results

0 sec

Reading Time

0 sec

Speaking Time

Words

Characters (0 no spaces)

0.0

Pages (~250 words/page)

Sentences · 0 Paragraphs

📖 Reading at 238 wpm · 🎤 Speaking at 150 wpm

How to Use

Enter your value in the input field
Click the Calculate/Convert button
Copy the result to your clipboard

Frequently Asked Questions

How is reading time calculated?: Reading time is calculated by dividing total word count by reading speed in words per minute (wpm). For example, a 1,000-word article at 238 wpm takes about 4 minutes 12 seconds. The formula is: Reading Time (minutes) = Word Count ÷ Words Per Minute.
What is the average reading speed?: The average adult reads at about 238 words per minute (wpm) for non-fiction and 260 wpm for fiction. Slow readers average around 150 wpm, while fast readers reach 350 wpm. Trained speed readers can exceed 600 wpm, though comprehension may decrease at very high speeds.
How fast should I speak during a presentation?: The ideal speaking rate for presentations is 130–150 words per minute. This pace allows your audience to follow along and absorb key points. TED Talks average around 160 wpm. Slow down for complex or technical material (100–120 wpm) and speed up slightly for stories or lighter content (150–170 wpm).
How many words are on a page?: A standard manuscript page contains approximately 250 words (double-spaced, 12pt font). A single-spaced page holds about 500 words. A typical novel has 250–300 words per page. This calculator uses 250 words per page as the standard.
How long does it take to read 1,000 words?: At the average reading speed of 238 wpm, it takes about 4 minutes and 12 seconds to read 1,000 words. A slow reader (150 wpm) would take about 6 minutes 40 seconds, while a fast reader (350 wpm) would finish in about 2 minutes 51 seconds.
Why do bloggers show estimated reading time?: Displaying estimated reading time helps readers decide whether to commit to an article. Studies show it increases engagement — Medium popularized this feature and found it improved reading rates. It sets expectations and reduces bounce rates by giving readers a clear time commitment upfront.
How long should a blog post be?: The ideal blog post length depends on your goal. Short posts (300–600 words, 1–3 min read) work for news and updates. Medium posts (1,000–1,500 words, 4–6 min read) suit how-to guides. Long-form content (2,000–3,000+ words, 8–12 min read) performs best for SEO and in-depth topics. HubSpot found that posts of 2,100–2,400 words tend to rank highest in search.