Whether it is an article or a long email, people want to know how long it will take to get through, and a raw word count does not answer that directly.
Reading Time Calculator applies a reading speed you choose to your text and shows the minutes live, so you can set expectations or trim the piece until it fits the time you want.
How to use Reading Time Calculator
- Paste the full text into the editor.
- Choose a reading speed in words per minute.
- Read the estimated minutes, which update as you edit.
Use cases
- Setting expectations at the top of a long email.
- Estimating how long a help article will take to read.
- Trimming a piece to fit a target reading time.
Good to know
Reading time is the word count divided by your chosen speed, with about 238 words per minute as a common default. It varies by reader, language and text difficulty, and it does not account for images or tables, so add time for anything a reader will pause on.
Frequently asked questions
How is reading time worked out?
It divides the word count by the reading speed you select, and the minutes update as you type.
Which reading speed should I choose?
Around 238 words per minute is a typical online default; choose a slower speed for dense material or a faster one for skimming.
Is reading time the same as speaking time?
No. Reading silently is faster than speaking aloud, so use a speaking-time tool when you plan to read text out loud.