Reading time calculator
How long your text takes to read, silently or aloud.
- Instant
- Free
- Private (processed locally)
- No sign-up
How long does your text run?
A blog post to badge, a speech to time, a newsletter to calibrate, a video script to plan: paste the text and read the two durations that matter — silent reading (adjustable from 150 to 250 wpm) and reading aloud (130 wpm, a speaker’s real-world pace).
-
Paste the text
Words and characters are counted as you type (Unicode, all languages).
-
Pick the speed
Slow (150) for technical content, average (200) by default, fast (250) for seasoned readers.
-
Read both durations
Silent for your readers, aloud for your speaking engagements.
Useful benchmarks
| Format | Words ≈ | Silent time | Aloud |
|---|---|---|---|
| Long tweet / LinkedIn post | 100 | 30 s | 45 s |
| Newsletter | 400 | 2 min | 3 min |
| Blog article | 1,000 | 5 min | 7 min 40 |
| Wedding speech | 650 | — | 5 min |
| 20-minute talk | 2,600 | — | 20 min |
For a YouTube video or podcast, add 10-15% to the “aloud” time: pauses and breathing always stretch the real take.
Frequently asked questions
How fast do people read on average?
Adults read silently at about 200-250 words per minute for ordinary text; 150 for technical material. Read aloud, a natural speech rate drops to 130-150 words per minute — the value speakers plan with.
How many words is a 5-minute speech?
At 130 wpm, plan around 650 words. Paste your script and read the “Read aloud” value: it is the most reliable estimate for a presentation, a toast or a video.
Why display reading time on a blog?
A “4 min read” badge lowers bounce rates: readers know what they are committing to. The platform convention (Medium…) is ~250 wpm plus a small allowance per image.
How is Japanese counted?
CJK scripts have no spaces between words: when the text is mostly Japanese or Chinese, the tool automatically switches to characters per minute (≈ 500 silent, ≈ 325 aloud).