Reading time calculator.Words to minutes, for reading and speaking.
Paste your text or type a word count. See how long it takes to read silently and to say aloud, at your own pace or at slow, average and fast speeds.
Counts update as you type.
- Reading time
- 0 s
- Speaking time
- 0 s
- Words
- 0
Reading and speaking pace
Change the speeds to your own, or compare the usual ranges below.
228 is the average adult silent reading speed in English.
150 is a steady presentation pace; podcasts run faster.
| Pace | Reading | Speaking |
|---|---|---|
| Slow | 0 s180 wpm | 0 s120 wpm |
| Average | 0 s228 wpm | 0 s150 wpm |
| Fast | 0 s300 wpm | 0 s180 wpm |
How the time is worked out
- Reading
- Words divided by reading speed. Adults read English at about 228 words a minute on average (IReST study, 2012).
- Speaking
- Words divided by speaking speed: about 150 a minute for a talk, 120 when you slow down to explain.
- Your text or a number
- Paste the text and we count the words, or type the count if you already know it.
Where reading time helps
- Blog posts
- A “6 min read” line sets expectations and helps readers decide to start.
- Talks and videos
- Fit a script to a time slot: a 10-minute talk is about 1,500 words.
- Newsletters
- Keep the email to the time your readers actually give it.
Questions
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About 4 minutes 23 seconds at the average speed of 228 words a minute, and about 6 minutes 40 seconds to say aloud at 150.
About 650 to 750 words at a steady pace of 130 to 150 words a minute.
About 228 words a minute for adults reading English silently, according to a 2012 study across 17 languages. Technical text is slower.
No. Words are counted in your browser.
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