Paste any text and instantly see how long it takes to read — both silently and aloud. It is useful for sizing blog posts, planning speeches, and timing video or podcast scripts so you hit a target length.
How it works
The tool counts the words in your text, then divides by a reading speed in words per minute to get a time. It computes two estimates from the same word count: a silent reading time at a default of 238 wpm (a widely cited average for adult silent reading) and a read-aloud time at a default of 130 wpm (typical clear speaking pace). Both speeds are adjustable, so you can match a particular audience or content type. The times are formatted as minutes and seconds.
Reference table
A 1,000-word article at the defaults:
- Silent reading: 1,000 ÷ 238 ≈ 4.2 minutes → about 4 min 12 sec
- Read aloud: 1,000 ÷ 130 ≈ 7.7 minutes → about 7 min 41 sec
| Word count | Silent (238 wpm) | Aloud (130 wpm) | Typical format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 150–200 | ~45 sec | ~1 min 30 sec | Social post, email subject |
| 300–350 | ~1 min 20 sec | ~2 min 30 sec | Short newsletter or announcement |
| 600–800 | ~3 min | ~5 min 30 sec | Blog post introduction, product page |
| 1,500 | ~6 min 20 sec | ~11 min 30 sec | Standard blog post |
| 2,500 | ~10 min 30 sec | ~19 min | Long-form guide or in-depth article |
| 8,000 | ~33 min | ~1 hr | Short e-book chapter or white paper |
When to adjust the default speeds
The 238 wpm silent and 130 wpm aloud defaults are averages across a broad adult population. Consider adjusting:
- Technical or scientific content: Dense terminology slows real readers to 150–180 wpm, so lower the silent speed to get a more honest estimate of how long your manual or documentation actually takes to process.
- Children’s materials: Young readers are significantly slower — elementary-level readers may average 80–120 wpm.
- Presentation delivery: Public speakers often aim for 120–140 wpm for a conversational but clear pace. Fast presenters may reach 160 wpm; complex or emotional content warrants 110–120 wpm.
- Podcast / video narration: Typical narration with natural pauses lands around 120–145 wpm depending on format. Adjust toward the lower end for instructional content, higher for energetic conversational podcasts.
- Audiobook narration: Professional narrators typically record at 150–160 wpm.
Using reading time for content planning
A common rule of thumb in content marketing is that posts under 3 minutes often see higher completion rates because readers are more likely to finish before losing focus. Longer pieces (7+ minutes) tend to perform better for SEO depth and authority but require stronger hooks to hold readers through the full length.
For video scripts, the read-aloud estimate is the most reliable proxy for final runtime, assuming normal delivery pace. A 1,000-word script at 130 wpm takes about 7 minutes 41 seconds — before factoring in pauses, graphics holds, or Q&A.
Everything runs in your browser — your text is never uploaded.