Reading Time

The average adult reads at 200–250 words per minute (wpm). This calculator defaults to 238 wpm, a widely cited research average. Fast readers may reach 300–400 wpm while still retaining comprehension.

At 238 wpm, 1,000 words takes about 4 minutes. A 1,500-word article is roughly 6 minutes; a 10,000-word document around 42 minutes.

Reading time is your word count divided by your reading speed in wpm. Use the slider to adjust the wpm to your own reading pace for a more accurate estimate.

Any sequence of characters separated by spaces counts as one word. Numbers, hyphenated words, and abbreviations each count as a single word.