# Read time estimator

Estimate reading and speaking time

Use it at https://www.quicktoolz.com/tools/read-time-estimator. From QuickToolz.

To estimate reading time, divide the word count by a reading speed. Adults read English at about 238 words a minute, so a 1,000-word article takes about 4 minutes 12 seconds. Speaking is slower, at about 150 words a minute. Paste your text, or just enter a word count, and choose a speed.

## How it works

reading time = words ÷ words a minute

If you paste text, we count its words. If you don’t, we use your word count.

Worked example: A 1,000-word article takes about 4 min 12 sec to read at 238 words a minute.

## Examples

| Words | Reading | Speaking |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 300 | 1 min 16 sec | 2 min |
| 500 | 2 min 6 sec | 3 min 20 sec |
| 1000 | 4 min 12 sec | 6 min 40 sec |
| 2000 | 8 min 24 sec | 13 min 20 sec |

## What this tool doesn't cover

- Speeds vary by person and by how hard the text is.

## Questions

### How long is a 5-minute speech?

About 750 words, at 150 words a minute.

### Should I show read time on my blog?

Many sites do, as it helps people decide when to read.

### Is my text uploaded?

No. Everything runs in your browser, and nothing is saved or sent.

### How is reading time worked out?

Divide the word count by a reading speed. Adults read about 200 to 250 words a minute.

### How many words is a 10-minute read?

About 2,000 to 2,500 words at a normal reading speed.

## Sources

- [Brysbaert (2019), How many words do we read per minute?](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jml.2019.104047)