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Reading Time Calculator
Work out how long your text takes to read or to say out loud, at the speed you choose.
Slow 100Average 225Fast 400
0:00Silent reading
0:00Read aloud
0Words
0Characters
0Sentences
0Paragraphs
Label for your article:
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Silent reading runs at roughly 200 to 250 words a minute. Reading aloud is far slower, nearer 130 to 150, which is why a five minute article becomes an eight minute talk.
What people use it for
- Adding an honest "5 min read" label to an article
- Timing a talk, a webinar or a podcast script
- Checking a video script fits its slot
- Setting reading homework to a realistic length
Questions
The default is 225 words a minute, the middle of the normal adult range for silent reading. You can move it between 100 and 400 to match your audience.
Speech runs at about 130 to 150 words a minute — you pause, breathe and emphasise. Presenters routinely underestimate this and overrun.
Seven minutes is often quoted as the sweet spot, roughly 1,600 words. It matters far less than whether the piece earns its length.
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Free, no sign-up, nothing stored. Last updated August 2026.