Reading Time Calculator — Get Instant Estimates
Paste text or enter a word count, choose your reading speed, and calculate reading time in seconds.
Reading Speed
220 WPMNeed speaking time instead? Go to the Speaking Time Calculator.
How to Use the Reading Time Calculator
Accurate estimates in four quick steps
Paste text or enter a word count
Paste any article, report, or script and the word count updates automatically.
Pro Tip:
If you only know the word count, enter the number to estimate instantly.
Pick a reading speed
Choose a preset or move the slider to match your pace.
Pro Tip:
Use a slower speed for technical or unfamiliar content.
Adjust for your audience
Publishing content? Set a speed that reflects your readers.
Pro Tip:
Clear, simple writing is usually read faster.
Apply the result
Use the estimate to plan length, goals, or timing.
Pro Tip:
Add a small buffer for breaks and reflection.
Why Use Our Reading Time Calculator?
Clear, adjustable estimates for real reading conditions
Instant estimates
Results update the moment you type or paste.
Adjustable reading speed
Set WPM to match your actual pace.
English & Chinese support
Words for English, characters for Chinese.
Privacy-first
All calculations run locally in your browser.
Built for real work
Great for writing, study, and content planning.
Works everywhere
Fast estimates on desktop, tablet, or mobile.
Reading Time Quick Reference
Based on a 200 WPM silent reading speed
How long to read different word counts?
How many words in different time periods?
Use these as estimates and adjust the reading speed slider for your actual pace.
Reading Speed Guide
Pick a pace that matches your content and goal
Deliberate pace for depth and comprehension.
Best for: Legal text, research, technical documentation
Comfortable speed for most everyday content.
Best for: News, blogs, standard reports
Efficient pace for familiar topics.
Best for: Long articles, reviews, summaries
Quick scanning to capture the gist.
Best for: Outlines, quick review, skimming
Choosing a speed: Dense or unfamiliar material usually needs a slower pace to stay accurate.
Ideal for Real Reading Tasks
Plan reading time for work, study, and publishing
Set clear reading expectations for audiences and editors.
Great for: content planning, publishing
Plan sessions and reading lists with confidence.
Great for: textbooks, papers, lecture notes
Estimate review time for long-form documents.
Great for: specs, manuals, policy docs
Keep updates concise with a predictable read time.
Great for: weekly updates, announcements
Estimate read-through time and pacing.
Great for: narration, training scripts
Gauge the reading load of interface text.
Great for: onboarding, tooltips, help centers