Estimate How Long Your Content Takes to Read Estimate how long it takes to read any text based on average reading speed.
Reading Time Calculator
Estimate how long it takes to read any text based on average reading speed.
Paste Your Content
Enter the text you want to estimate reading time for.
View Time Estimate
See the estimated reading time in minutes based on average reading speed.
Adjust If Needed
Use the reading speed setting to match your target audience's reading level.
What Is Reading Time Calculator?
A reading time calculator estimates how long it takes the average person to read a given text. It works by counting words and dividing by the average adult reading speed, typically around 200-250 words per minute. This metric is widely used by content platforms like Medium, blog sites, and news outlets to show readers an estimated reading duration before they commit to an article. Knowing reading time helps content creators plan article lengths appropriate for their audience, optimize engagement by keeping content within ideal attention spans, and provide transparency about content length. The tool accounts for different reading speeds and can be adjusted for audiences that read faster (educated adults) or slower (technical content, non-native speakers).
Why Use Reading Time Calculator?
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Instantly estimate how long content takes to read
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Plan content length based on target reading durations
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Add reading time indicators to your blog or website
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Optimize presentation and speech timing
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Adjustable reading speed for different audiences
Common Use Cases
Blog Posts
Determine if your article falls within the ideal 7-10 minute reading time that maximizes engagement.
Email Newsletters
Keep emails under 2-3 minutes reading time to maintain subscriber engagement.
Presentations
Estimate the time needed for reading-based slides or speaker notes.
Course Content
Plan lesson lengths and reading assignments for educational material.
Content Strategy
Balance your content mix between quick reads (2-3 min) and in-depth pieces (10+ min).
Technical Guide
Reading time is calculated using the formula: time = word_count / words_per_minute. The standard words-per-minute (WPM) rate for an average adult reading silently is 200-250 WPM. This tool defaults to 200 WPM, which accounts for the fact that online reading tends to be slower due to screen fatigue and distractions. The result is rounded to the nearest minute for display, with a minimum of 1 minute for very short texts. Research by Marc Brysbaert (2019) established that the average silent reading rate for English is 238 WPM, though this varies significantly based on text difficulty, reader proficiency, and reading purpose. Technical or academic content is typically read at 150-200 WPM, while light fiction may be read at 250-300 WPM. The tool provides the word count alongside the time estimate so users can calculate custom reading speeds.
Tips & Best Practices
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1Medium reports optimal blog engagement at 7-minute read time (~1,500 words)
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2Technical content is read slower — use 150 WPM for developer documentation
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3Include reading time on your blog to increase article click-through rates
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4Email newsletters perform best under 200 words (1-minute read)
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5For presentations, speaking time is roughly 2x reading time
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📝 Text ToolsFrequently Asked Questions
Q What reading speed does the calculator use?
Q Is online reading faster or slower than print?
Q What's the ideal reading time for a blog post?
Q Does the calculator account for images?
Q How accurate is the reading time estimate?
About This Tool
Reading Time Calculator is a free online tool by FreeToolkit.ai. All processing happens directly in your browser — your data never leaves your device. No registration or installation required.