Toolstia / reading time calculator
Reading time calculator
Paste an article, essay, script or email and see how many minutes it takes to read silently, to read aloud and to skim. You can change the reading speed to match your audience.
Adults read silent text at about 200 to 260 words per minute, and 238 is the average found in reading research. Technical material is slower.
How it works
- Paste your text.
- Adjust the words per minute if you like.
- Read the reading, speaking and skimming times.
How it is worked out
The reading time is the word count divided by your reading speed. The default of 238 words per minute is the average for silent reading of adult non-fiction found in reading research.
Speaking time
Presentations and read-aloud scripts run slower, at about 130 words per minute, which is the speaking time shown.
Blog posts and articles
Many sites show a reading time at the top of articles. Use this tool to work out the same number for your own writing.
Speed varies
Technical or unfamiliar material is read more slowly, and light fiction faster. Change the speed to suit.
Questions
What is an average reading speed?
About 200 to 260 words per minute for adults reading silently.
Does it count words in other languages?
Yes. Letters and numbers from any script are counted as words.
Is anything uploaded?
No. Everything is done in your browser and nothing is sent anywhere.