Read Time Calculator
Read time calculator works out Reading time and Reading time (rounded up) from Word count, Or paste the text and Reading rate. The default figures on this page give reading time of 4.2017 min; change any entry and the result, the working and the sources update together.
Your figures
Updates as you typeHow this is worked out
3 steps
- Word count given: 1000.
- Reading time = 1000 / 238 = 4.201681 minutes = 252.1 seconds.
- Read aloud at 150 words per minute it would take 6.666667 minutes.
Its 5 worked examples are re-run on every release, last on 15 September 2026. What changed
Sources and references
2 sources
What the read time calculator calculates
Estimates reading time from a word count (or from pasted text) and a reading rate: minutes = words / words-per-minute. Defaults to 238 words a minute for adult silent reading of non-fiction, the figure from Brysbaert’s meta-analysis, with slower rates offered for reading aloud and for technical material.
How to use this read time calculator
Enter Word count, Or paste the text, Reading rate and Speaking rate. Reading time updates as you type. Change one figure at a time to see what drives the result.
How the result is worked out
Open “How this is worked out” beside the result for the step-by-step calculation behind Reading time, Reading time (rounded up) and Reading time in seconds.
The method follows Brysbaert, M. (2019), "How many words do we read per minute? A review and meta-analysis of reading rate", Journal of Memory and Language 109 and Toastmasters International, speech timing guidance.
What you can compare
Change one input at a time to see how it affects Reading time, Reading time (rounded up) and Reading time in seconds. The inputs you can vary are Word count, Or paste the text, Reading rate and Speaking rate.
Results are general information, not financial, tax, legal, medical or engineering advice. Check any decision that matters with a qualified professional.
See something wrong? Report a problem with this calculator
Frequently asked questions
How to calculate read time?
Estimates reading time from a word count (or from pasted text) and a reading rate: minutes = words / words-per-minute. Open “How this is worked out” beside the result to see each step for your own figures.
How many words are 30 minutes of reading?
On the figures this page opens with — word count 1,000 and reading rate 250 words/min — the reading time is 4.2017 min. No single number fits everyone: change any figure above and the answer updates as you type, with each step of the arithmetic beside it.
How fast is 400 WPM reading?
It needs Word count, Or paste the text, Reading rate and Speaking rate. Nothing else is required, and the figures stay in your browser.
What information do I need for the read time calculator?
You need Word count, Or paste the text, Reading rate and Speaking rate. The page opens with default figures that give reading time of 4.2017 min, so you can see the scale before entering your own.
What does this read time calculator show?
It shows Reading time, Reading time (rounded up), Reading time in seconds, Time to read aloud, Words counted, Characters and Summary, with the working and any warnings for your entries.
Can I check how the read time calculator result was calculated?
Yes. The “How this is worked out” section shows the calculation steps, and the sources section identifies the references used for the method.