How to use the Reading Time
- Enter the word count, or paste the text to have it counted.
- Choose a reading speed, or enter your own measured rate.
- Read the estimate in minutes.
- Add time for tables, code or formulas, which read far more slowly than prose.
How the calculation works
The estimate divides word count by words per minute. Silent reading of general prose averages around 200 to 250 words per minute for adults, with comprehension holding well in that band. Technical material with unfamiliar terminology runs closer to 100 to 150, and reading aloud settles around 130 to 150 — which is why an audio version of an article always runs longer than its stated reading time.
The figure measures continuous reading only. It says nothing about study, which involves re-reading, note-taking and pauses to think, and it under-counts documents with dense tables, mathematics or code, where the eye stops frequently. For study planning, treat the reading time as a floor and multiply it by two or three.
Minutes = word count / words per minute (≈238 wpm for adult silent reading of non-fiction prose)Source: Brysbaert M., 'How many words do we read per minute? A review and meta-analysis of reading rate', Journal of Memory and Language, 2019.
Worked example
A 2,850-word technical article read at a careful 160 words per minute.
- 2,850 / 160 = 17.8 minutes of continuous reading.
- The article contains two code blocks and a table, adding roughly 3 minutes.
- For study with note-taking, multiply by 2.5.
About 21 minutes to read once, or close to 50 minutes to study properly with notes.
Frequently asked questions
What reading speed should I assume for a general audience?+
Around 238 words per minute is the best-supported average for adult silent reading of non-fiction. Many publishers round to 200, which produces a slightly generous estimate.
Is speed reading real?+
Claims of many hundreds of words per minute with full comprehension are not supported by the evidence — beyond roughly 400 wpm, comprehension falls sharply. Skimming for structure is genuinely useful, but it is not reading.
How long does the same text take to read aloud?+
Roughly 130 to 150 words per minute for clear narration, so about 60% longer than silent reading. Podcast and presentation scripts should be timed at that slower rate.
Why is my actual time longer than the estimate?+
The estimate assumes uninterrupted reading of plain prose. Notifications, re-reading a difficult paragraph, and any tables, figures or equations all add time that a word count cannot see.
Last reviewed August 31, 2026. We review this page whenever the underlying formula, tax year, published rate or standard changes.