Reading Time Calculator
Paste any text to find out how long it takes to read, skim or read aloud.
Calculate your reading time
Your reading time
Enter a word count or paste your text to see your reading time.
Reading time at your speed
How long texts of different lengths take at slow, average and fast speeds.
How reading time is calculated
This free reading time calculator works out how long a passage takes to read from its word count and your reading speed. Paste any text, or type a word count, and it shows reading, skimming and reading aloud times. There is no sign-up, nothing is uploaded, and the tool runs entirely in your browser.
How do you calculate reading time?
Reading time is the word count divided by the reading speed in words per minute. A 1,000 word article read at 200 words per minute takes 5 minutes, while the same article at 150 words per minute takes about 6 minutes 40 seconds. This tool uses that same simple division, so the answer is exact for the speed you pick.
What is the average reading speed?
The average adult reads about 200 to 250 words per minute for normal reading. A 2019 study by Marc Brysbaert, published in the journal Frontiers in Psychology, found that average silent reading speed for adults is about 238 words per minute. This tool uses 200 words per minute as its default average, which is a careful estimate, because most people read a little slower on a screen than on paper.
How long does it take to read 10,000 words?
A 10,000 word text takes about 50 minutes at 200 words per minute, and about 40 minutes at 250 words per minute. That is the length of a long magazine article or a short chapter. A full novel of 80,000 words takes about 6 hours 40 minutes at 200 words per minute, which is why most readers finish a novel in several sittings.
What is the difference between reading and skimming?
Reading means going through every word in order, while skimming means moving quickly over the text to pick out the main points. Skimming is about twice as fast as normal reading, because the reader skips details and focuses on headings and topic sentences. This tool estimates skimming at 400 words per minute, which is double the default reading speed.
How fast do people read aloud?
Reading aloud is slower than silent reading, because the mouth has to keep up with the eyes. Most people read aloud at about 150 words per minute, which is the pace of clear speech. A speech of 1,000 words therefore takes about 6 minutes 40 seconds to deliver. This tool uses 150 words per minute for the reading aloud time.
Reading times for common texts
The table below uses the default average speed of 200 words per minute.
| Text | Words | Reading time |
|---|---|---|
| Short email | 100 words | 30 seconds |
| Blog post | 1,000 words | 5 minutes |
| Long article | 3,000 words | 15 minutes |
| Short story | 10,000 words | 50 minutes |
| Novel | 80,000 words | 6 hours 40 minutes |
Frequently asked questions
How many words can I read in 10 minutes?
At the average speed of 200 words per minute, you can read about 2,000 words in 10 minutes. A fast reader at 250 words per minute reads about 2,500 words in the same time, while a slow reader at 150 words per minute reads about 1,500 words.
How long does it take to read a 300 page book?
A typical 300 page book has about 80,000 words, which takes about 6 hours 40 minutes at 200 words per minute. Most readers finish it in 8 to 10 sittings of 40 to 50 minutes each.
Does reading speed change with the type of text?
Yes. Simple text, such as a story or a blog post, is read faster than dense text, such as a legal document or a textbook. Unfamiliar words, long sentences and technical terms all slow the reader down. The speeds in this tool are averages for normal prose.
How do I read faster without losing understanding?
Read in phrases instead of single words, and stop saying each word in your head. Preview headings and first sentences before you start, and skip back only when you lose the thread. Short daily practice raises speed more than a single long session.
Is 200 words per minute a good reading speed?
Yes. It is the normal speed for an adult reading for understanding, and it is the speed used by many publishers and reading tests. Speeds above 300 words per minute often mean the reader is skimming, not reading every word.
How long does it take to read a 1,000 word essay?
A 1,000 word essay takes about 5 minutes to read at 200 words per minute. Reading it aloud takes about 6 minutes 40 seconds, and skimming it takes about 2 minutes 30 seconds.
Does the calculator count words in my text?
Yes. Paste your text and the tool counts the words for you. It splits the text at spaces, line breaks and tabs, then counts each separate word. Numbers count as words too, so a date or a figure adds to the total.
More tools you may need
Want the full breakdown of your text? Try the Word Counter. Need to reformat your words? Use the Case Converter. Want to turn text into code? Try the Morse Code Translator.
