Reading Time Calculator
Estimate how long your text takes to read at slow, average, and fast reading speeds — based on the research-backed average of 238 words per minute.
About this tool
The "X min read" label you see on articles comes from dividing word count by a reading speed. The best available figure for adult silent reading of English non-fiction is 238 words per minute, from Brysbaert’s 2019 meta-analysis of 190 reading studies.
Actual speed varies with difficulty and purpose: skimming runs 400+ wpm, careful technical reading can drop below 150 wpm, and reading aloud averages about 183 wpm.
Use the speed selector to match your audience, and the estimate updates live.
Everything runs locally in your browser — your text is never uploaded, stored, or shared.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to read 1,000 words?
About 4 minutes 12 seconds at the average adult speed of 238 words per minute. A slow reader takes around 5½ minutes; a fast reader around 3½.
Where does 238 wpm come from?
A 2019 meta-analysis by Marc Brysbaert combining 190 studies of adult reading found a mean silent-reading rate of 238 wpm for non-fiction and 260 wpm for fiction.
Do images and code blocks add reading time?
This tool counts only words. Publishing platforms often add ~10 seconds per image; for technical posts with code, real reading time can be 1.5–2× the plain-text estimate.