Reading Time Calculator
Reading Time Calculator
Paste an article, script, or speech to estimate how long it takes to read silently (at your chosen words-per-minute pace) and how long it takes to read aloud (at an average speaking pace).
The default 200 words-per-minute silent-reading estimate is a commonly cited average for adult readers, though the number varies a fair amount from person to person — adjusting it to your own known pace gives a more personally accurate estimate. Speaking time uses a separate, slower 130 words-per-minute benchmark, the standard average pace used for presentations and scripted speech, which is why a piece of writing that reads quickly in your head can still take noticeably longer to actually deliver out loud — a useful distinction when timing a speech, podcast script, or video voiceover.
- Reading time = Word Count ÷ Your Reading Speed (default 200 wpm, a commonly cited average adult silent-reading pace).
- Speaking time = Word Count ÷ 130 wpm, a standard average speech pace used for presentations and scripts.
- Adjust your reading speed if you know your own pace differs — fast readers may exceed 300 wpm, slower or more careful readers may be closer to 150 wpm.
Why is speaking time fixed at 130 wpm?
Average speech delivery is commonly cited around 130 words per minute for clear, paced speaking — much slower than silent reading, which is why speaking time is usually longer than reading time for the same text.
Is this useful for blog posts?
Yes — many blogs display an estimated reading time using exactly this kind of word-count-based calculation.
Reading Time Calculator
Paste an article, script, or speech to estimate how long it takes to read silently (at your chosen words-per-minute pace) and how long it takes to read aloud (at an average speaking pace).
The default 200 words-per-minute silent-reading estimate is a commonly cited average for adult readers, though the number varies a fair amount from person to person — adjusting it to your own known pace gives a more personally accurate estimate. Speaking time uses a separate, slower 130 words-per-minute benchmark, the standard average pace used for presentations and scripted speech, which is why a piece of writing that reads quickly in your head can still take noticeably longer to actually deliver out loud — a useful distinction when timing a speech, podcast script, or video voiceover.
- Reading time = Word Count ÷ Your Reading Speed (default 200 wpm, a commonly cited average adult silent-reading pace).
- Speaking time = Word Count ÷ 130 wpm, a standard average speech pace used for presentations and scripts.
- Adjust your reading speed if you know your own pace differs — fast readers may exceed 300 wpm, slower or more careful readers may be closer to 150 wpm.
Why is speaking time fixed at 130 wpm?
Average speech delivery is commonly cited around 130 words per minute for clear, paced speaking — much slower than silent reading, which is why speaking time is usually longer than reading time for the same text.
Is this useful for blog posts?
Yes — many blogs display an estimated reading time using exactly this kind of word-count-based calculation.