Reading Time Calculator

Estimate how long an article or document takes to read from its word count.

Inputs

Word Count

Reading Speed (words/min)

Average adult silent reading speed is around 200-250 WPM.

Word Count
Reading Speed (words/min)

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Reading Time (minutes)

7.5

Spark says

How it's calculated

Sleek office desk setup featuring a laptop, glass of water, and open window view. — Photo by EVG Kowalievska on Pexels

A contemporary desk setup featuring headphones and a computer screen displaying digital content. — Photo by Mateusz Dach on Pexels

Formula

Minutes = \dfrac{Words}{Reading\ Speed}

Reading\ Speed: — Words read per minute

What is the Reading Time Calculator?

Reading time estimators divide total word count by an assumed reading speed — commonly used on blogs and articles to show a '5 min read' label.

How to use it

1 Enter the total word count.
2 Enter (or adjust) the assumed reading speed.

Worked examples

1,500-word article at 200 WPM

About 7.5 minutes to read.

Try it

Frequently asked questions

Why do reading time estimates vary between sites?

Different sites assume different reading speeds (commonly 200-265 WPM) and some add extra time for images — there's no single universal standard.

calixo.cloud/developer/reading-time-calculator/ — free calculator, no signup required.