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Reading Time Calculator

Estimate how long a text takes to read silently or aloud, from a word count or pasted text.

Reading time

8:24

Words
2,000
Speed used
238 words per minute
Most adults (175–300 wpm)
6:40 to 11:26

Speeds are English averages for adults; dense technical text and unfamiliar topics read slower.

Show the work

  1. Minutes

    minutes = words ÷ wpm

    2,000 ÷ 238 = 8.40336 min

  2. In seconds

    seconds = minutes × 60

    8.40336 × 60 = 504.202 s

  3. As a clock

    8:24

How it works

Time = words ÷ reading speed; average adult speeds (Brysbaert 2019 meta-analysis): 238 words per minute silent non-fiction, 260 fiction, 183 reading aloud

Questions

How does the reading time calculator work?
Time = words ÷ reading speed; average adult speeds (Brysbaert 2019 meta-analysis): 238 words per minute silent non-fiction, 260 fiction, 183 reading aloud.
What do I need to enter?
Number of words, Reading, Your speed, …or paste the text (optional — counts the words for you). Optional fields can be left blank.

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