Reading Time Calculator
Paste your text and see how long it takes to read silently (238 wpm research average) and to deliver aloud (150 wpm) — live as you edit toward a time target.
Planning to a time budget
Working backward from time is often easier than forward from words: a "3-minute read" is about 714 words, a 10-minute conference talk about 1500 spoken words, and a 30-second radio spot roughly 75. Draft, paste, and trim until the live figure hits your slot — the counter updates as you cut.
Frequently asked questions
Where do the 238 and 150 wpm figures come from?
The silent-reading figure is the average for adults reading non-fiction in a large published meta-analysis of reading-rate studies (Brysbaert, 2019); the speaking figure reflects typical prepared-speech pacing guidance of roughly 125–150 wpm. Both are averages — real audiences and speakers vary.
Why do blogs show different reading times for the same length?
Different assumed speeds. Publishing tools commonly use anything from 200 to 265 wpm, which is why one platform says "4 min read" and another "5 min" for the same article. The length is fact; the minutes are convention.
How long is a 5-minute speech?
At 150 wpm, about 750 words — a useful planning anchor. Slower, more deliberate delivery (or pauses for slides and laughs) reduces that; energetic delivery raises it. Rehearsing with a timer beats any formula.
Does complexity change reading time?
Yes — dense technical prose reads slower than a listicle, and skimming is faster than studying. The estimate here assumes ordinary continuous reading of ordinary prose; treat it as the middle of the range, not a stopwatch.
Estimates assume average pace and ordinary prose; your audience will vary. Everything is processed locally in your browser and never transmitted. See the methodology page.