Reading Time Calculator
Estimate how long a piece of text takes to read, based on typical reading speed.
How long is this to read?
Readers like to know what they are in for, which is why articles show a five minute read label at the top. This estimates that figure from your text, counting the words and dividing by an average reading pace, so you can add an honest reading-time badge or simply gauge whether a piece is the right length for its audience.
Paste the text and it tells you the estimated minutes.
A rough guide, not a stopwatch
It is an estimate, not a precise measurement, because reading speed varies — most people read prose at somewhere between two and three hundred words a minute, faster for easy text and slower for dense or technical material. Treat the number as a helpful ballpark that sets expectations, rather than a promise of the exact time every reader will take.
Common questions
How is the reading time calculated?
From the word count divided by an average reading speed of a few hundred words a minute.
Is it exact?
It is a good estimate. Real reading speed varies with the reader and how dense the text is.
Is my text uploaded?
No. The estimate is worked out in your browser.