How reading time is calculated
Reading time is word count ÷ reading speed. Adults read non-fiction silently at about 238 words per minute and fiction at about 260, so a 1,000-word article takes roughly 4 minutes 12 seconds. That figure comes from a 2019 meta-analysis of studies on silent reading, and it is the default here.
Images slow readers down. This calculator uses the method popularised by Medium: 12 seconds for the first image, 11 for the second and so on, down to 3 seconds each. Enter the image count and the total updates immediately.
Reading speeds compared
| Reader | Speed | Typical use | 1,000 words |
|---|---|---|---|
| Read aloud | 150 WPM | Out loud | 6 min 40 sec |
| Study | 180 WPM | Dense, technical | 5 min 33 sec |
| Average adult | 238 WPM | Non-fiction | 4 min 12 sec |
| Fast reader | 300 WPM | Practised | 3 min 20 sec |
| Skimming | 450 WPM | Scanning | 2 min 13 sec |
Reading time by length
| Text | Words | Silent (238 WPM) | Aloud (150 WPM) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Short blog post | 500 | 2 min 6 sec | 3 min 20 sec |
| Standard article | 1,000 | 4 min 12 sec | 6 min 40 sec |
| Long-form article | 2,000 | 8 min 24 sec | 13 min 20 sec |
| Short story | 7,500 | 31 min 31 sec | 50 min |
| Novella | 30,000 | 2 hr 6 min 3 sec | 3 hr 20 min |
| Novel | 80,000 | 5 hr 36 min 8 sec | 8 hr 53 min 20 sec |
Reading aloud is about 60 percent slower than silent reading. If the text will be spoken, use the speech time calculator, or convert any word count on the words to minutes page.
Frequently asked questions
Reading time
How is reading time calculated?
Reading time is the word count divided by a silent reading speed in words per minute. Adults read non-fiction at about 238 WPM on average, so a 1,000-word article takes about 4 minutes 12 seconds. The reading time calculator also lets you add time for images and change the speed to match your audience.
What is the average reading speed?
The average adult reads about 238 words per minute for non-fiction and about 260 for fiction, according to a 2019 meta-analysis of 190 studies. Dense technical material is slower, around 150 to 180 WPM, and practised readers can reach 300 or more. Reading aloud is far slower, at about 150 WPM.
How many words can I read in 5 minutes?
At the average adult speed of 238 WPM you can read about 1,190 words in 5 minutes. A slow, careful reader at 150 WPM gets through 750 words, and a fast reader at 300 WPM covers 1,500. Use the Time to Words tab to try your own speed.
How long does it take to read a 1,000-word article?
A 1,000-word article takes about 4 minutes 12 seconds to read silently at 238 WPM. Add 12 seconds for the first image, 11 for the second and so on, down to a floor of 3 seconds per image, which is the method blogs such as Medium use. Read aloud at 150 WPM the same article takes 6 minutes 40 seconds.
Should I show reading time on my blog posts?
Yes, an estimated reading time sets expectations and helps readers decide whether to start. Round to the nearest minute, use a speed of 200 to 240 WPM for general audiences, and count images if the post has many. Show it near the headline, as "5 min read".
Is reading time the same as speaking time?
No. People read silently about 60 percent faster than they speak, so a 1,500-word script takes about 6 minutes 18 seconds to read silently but 10 minutes to say aloud. Use the Speech Time calculator for anything that will be spoken.