Free online tool

Estimate how long text takes to read

Paste a draft and choose a reading speed to estimate its reading duration. The estimate uses word count and a typical rate; subject matter, reading level and individual pace change the actual time.

Open the interactive Reading Time Calculator

The interactive tool loads in the page. Enable JavaScript to enter data, process content, and download results.

Quick guide

How to use this tool

  1. 01Paste or type the text you want to estimate.
  2. 02Set a words-per-minute rate that suits your reader or format.
  3. 03Review the estimated duration and word count; no text is submitted for the calculation.

Capabilities

Features and supported formats

  • Adjustable reading speed in words per minute.
  • Reports word count and a readable minutes/seconds estimate.
  • Calculates from text in the current browser page.

Supported formats

Input: plain text. Output: word count and estimated reading time.

Answers

Frequently asked questions

What reading speed should I use?

A common starting estimate for general adult English reading is around 200–250 words per minute. Choose a different rate for your intended audience and material.

Is the result exact?

No. It is an estimate based on the selected rate and does not account for pauses, difficulty, images or rereading.