Reading Time Estimator
About this calculator
Paste text, enter a word count, or enter the pages in a book and your reading speed, and the estimator tells you how long it will take to read. Presets cover slow (150 wpm), average (238 wpm) and fast (400 wpm) readers.
Bloggers add a 'min read' label to posts, students plan study sessions, and book lovers see how long a novel will take.
How to use it
- Choose a source: Paste Text, Word Count or Book.
- Set your reading speed with the slider or a preset.
- Read the estimated time.
Formula
Reading time is words ÷ words per minute. Silent reading speed for adults averages about 238 words per minute for non-fiction, with slow readers near 150 and fast readers 400 or more. Reading aloud runs near 150 words per minute. A printed page holds about 250 to 300 words.
Worked example
1,500 words at 238 wpm
| Average reader | about 6.3 minutes |
| Slow (150 wpm) | 10 minutes |
| Fast (400 wpm) | 3.8 minutes |
| 300-page book (75,000 words) at 238 wpm | about 5.3 hours |
Tips and common mistakes
- Show reading time on long posts; it improves engagement.
- Technical text reads slower than a story.
- Add time for images and code blocks.
- Test your own speed with the reading speed test.
- Rounding up to the next minute is the convention.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to read 1,000 words?
About four minutes at the average speed of 238 wpm.
What is the average reading speed?
About 238 words per minute for adults.
How many words are on a page?
Roughly 250 to 300 in a printed book.
How do I speed up reading?
Practise regularly, reduce subvocalisation and read in phrases.
Does reading speed affect comprehension?
Yes. Very high speeds lower understanding.
What speed do audiobooks use?
About 150 words per minute.