Reading Time Calculator
Calculate how long it takes to read or speak any text.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average adult reading speed?
Average silent reading speed for adults: 200–250 wpm for non-fiction, ~300 wpm for fiction (familiar content). Academic/technical text: 150–200 wpm (slower due to complexity). Speed readers: 400–700 wpm (with some comprehension trade-off). This tool uses 200 wpm as the conservative baseline.
How is speaking time different from reading time?
Speaking aloud is slower than silent reading. Average conversational speech: 130–150 wpm. Formal presentation: 120–150 wpm. Audiobook narration: 150–160 wpm. Auctioneers and sports commentators: 250–400 wpm. This calculator uses 130 wpm for speaking and 150 wpm for audiobook narration.
How long should a blog post or article be?
Research from tools like Backlinko and HubSpot suggests long-form content (1,500–3,000 words) tends to rank higher in search results. However, content should match user intent: a quick answer works better as 300 words, while a comprehensive guide warrants 2,000–5,000+. "As long as it needs to be" is the honest answer.