Reading Time Calculator
Calculate how long it takes to read any text or article
Estimated Reading Time
0 words at 200 wpm
Reading Time by Speed
Reading Time for Common Word Counts
| Word Count | Reading Time (200 wpm) |
|---|---|
| 500 words | 3 minutes |
| 1,000 words | 5 minutes |
| 1,500 words | 8 minutes |
| 2,000 words | 10 minutes |
| 3,000 words | 15 minutes |
| 5,000 words | 25 minutes |
| 10,000 words | 50 minutes |
| 50,000 words | 250 minutes |
Free Reading Time Calculator
Our free reading time calculator estimates how long it takes to read any piece of text based on the average adult reading speed of 200-250 words per minute. Simply paste your text or enter your word count and instantly see the estimated reading time. You can also adjust the reading speed to match your specific audience — slower for children or complex technical content, faster for speed readers.
Why Reading Time Matters
Adding reading time estimates to blog posts and articles helps readers decide whether to read now or bookmark for later. Research shows that displaying reading time reduces bounce rates and increases engagement because readers know what they are committing to before they start. Medium, the popular blogging platform, pioneered this feature and saw significantly higher engagement as a result. Most SEO experts recommend blog posts of 1,500 to 2,000 words which takes approximately 6 to 10 minutes to read.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is reading time calculated?
Reading time is calculated based on the average adult reading speed of 200-250 words per minute. Our calculator lets you adjust the reading speed to match your audience.
What is the average reading speed?
The average adult reads 200-250 words per minute for normal text. Speed readers can read 400-700 words per minute. Children and slower readers may read 100-150 words per minute.
How long does it take to read 1000 words?
At an average reading speed of 200 words per minute, 1000 words takes approximately 5 minutes to read. At 250 words per minute it takes 4 minutes.
How long does it take to read 2000 words?
At an average reading speed of 200 words per minute, 2000 words takes approximately 10 minutes to read.
Why does reading time matter for blogs?
Displaying reading time on blog posts helps readers decide whether to read now or save for later. Posts with reading times listed typically see higher engagement and lower bounce rates.