Readers like to know upfront how long an article will take, and guessing the figure for a byline badge is easy to get wrong.
Read Time Estimator counts your draft and applies a reading speed you choose, so you get a reading-time figure you can put under the headline with confidence.
How to use Read Time Estimator
- Paste your article or post into the editor.
- Choose a reading speed, and add an images or tables buffer if your post has them.
- Copy the X min read badge to use under your byline.
Use cases
- Adding a read-time badge under a headline.
- Setting expectations for a newsletter piece.
- Comparing the length of two article drafts.
Good to know
Reading time is the word count divided by your chosen reading speed. A common online reading speed is around 238 words per minute, but it varies with reader, language and how complex the text is, so pick the speed that fits your audience.
Frequently asked questions
What reading speed should I use for a badge?
Around 238 words per minute is a common online default, but you can set a slower or faster speed to match your readers.
Does the estimate include images or code blocks?
No. It estimates from the words you paste, so add a little time for figures, tables or code your readers will pause on.
Why does reading time differ between readers?
Reading speed varies by person, language and text difficulty, so the figure is a reasonable average rather than an exact time.