How the time is worked out. Reading time = words ÷ reading speed. A large 2019 review of reading studies by Marc Brysbaert put the average silent reading speed of adults at about 238 words per minute for non-fiction, so that is the default. For speaking, 120 to 160 words per minute covers most talks and presentations. Each image adds a few seconds (12 seconds for the first, a little less for each one after).
How to use the reading time calculator
- Paste your text, or switch to "Enter word count" if you already know it.
- Pick a reading speed and a speaking speed, or set a custom words-per-minute value.
- Add the number of images or charts if your article has them.
- Read the reading time, the speaking time and the table for other speeds.
- Planning a talk? Use "Words for a speech" to see how many words fit in your time slot.
Quick reference
| Words | Reading (238 wpm) | Speaking (140 wpm) |
|---|---|---|
| 500 | 2.1 min | 3.6 min |
| 1,000 | 4.2 min | 7.1 min |
| 1,500 | 6.3 min | 10.7 min |
| 2,000 | 8.4 min | 14.3 min |
| 3,000 | 12.6 min | 21.4 min |
Example
A 1,500-word blog post with 3 images: 1,500 ÷ 238 = 6.3 minutes of text, plus 12 + 11 + 10 = 33 seconds for the images. Reading time is about 6 min 51 sec. Read aloud at 140 wpm, the same text takes about 10 min 43 sec.
Frequently asked questions
How many words is a 5 minute speech?
About 600 to 800 words. At a clear presentation pace of 140 words per minute, 5 minutes is about 700 words. Leave a little room for pauses and audience reactions.
How long does it take to read 1,000 words?
About 4 minutes for an average adult reader at 238 words per minute, and about 7 minutes if you read it aloud.
Does it work for Hindi text?
Yes. Hindi words in Devanagari are counted the same way. Reading speed in Hindi varies a lot from person to person, so a custom speed may give you a better estimate.
Should I show reading time on my blog?
Many sites do, because it helps readers decide whether to read now or save the post. Round it to whole minutes, such as "6 min read".
Is my text uploaded?
No. The word count and timing happen in your browser.
About this tool. Built and reviewed by the ToolsRiver team, November 2026. Source for the default reading speed: Brysbaert, M. (2019), "How many words do we read per minute? A review and meta-analysis of reading rate", Journal of Memory and Language. Related tools: Word Counter, Sentence Counter and Syllable Counter.