Case 1
- How many words?
- 1000words
- How fast do you read?
- 238wpm
4.20min
Open with these valuesReading Time Calculator
4.20min
Result: 4.20 minDivide the word count by your reading speed. Silent adult reading averages 238 words per minute, so a 1,000-word article takes about 4.2 minutes; reading the same text aloud at 183 words per minute takes 5.5. Multiply the minutes by 60 for seconds.
Worked examples
Case 2
- How many words?
- 3000words
- How fast do you read?
- 200wpm
15.00min
Open with these valuesCase 3
- How many words?
- 500words
- How fast do you read?
- 250wpm
2.00min
Open with these valuesHow it's calculated
minutes = words ÷ words per minute
- StepEnter the word count of the text.
- StepEnter a reading speed — 238 words per minute is the silent adult average.
- ResultRead the time in minutes; multiply by 60 if you want seconds.
Reference table
| Words, speed (wpm) | Situation | Minutes |
|---|---|---|
| 500, 250 | short blog post, brisk reader | 2.00 |
| 500, 238 | short blog post, average reader | 2.10 |
| 1000, 238 | long article, silent reading | 4.20 |
| 1500, 183 | script read aloud | 8.20 |
| 3000, 200 | magazine feature, careful pace | 15.00 |
| 10000, 238 | short story, silent reading | 42.02 |
Questions
How is reading time calculated?
Word count divided by reading speed in words per minute. A 1,000-word text at 238 words per minute takes 4.2 minutes, or about 252 seconds.
What is the average reading speed?
The source behind this calculator puts silent adult reading at 238 words per minute and reading aloud at 183, drawn from an analysis of 190 studies. It gives 220 to 350 words per minute as the adult range.
What speed should I enter?
Start with 238 for general silent reading. Drop towards 150 for technical or unfamiliar material, and raise it if you skim.
How accurate is the estimate?
The arithmetic is exact, the input is a convention. It assumes one steady pace over the whole text, which difficulty, familiarity and distraction all break.
Is reading time the same as speaking time?
No — people read silently faster than they speak. The same source puts reading aloud at 183 words per minute, so a script takes about a third longer to say than to read.
Sources and last check
Information, not professional advice.