Reading Time Calculator
Paste an article in plain text or HTML to estimate its reading and speaking time. Choose a reading speed or enter your own words-per-minute figure, optionally add time for images, and copy a ready-made "X min read" label or HTML snippet for your blog.
How to use the Reading Time Calculator
- Paste your article text or HTML.
- Choose slow, average or fast reading speed, or set a custom wpm.
- Tick "Ignore HTML tags" when pasting HTML, and optionally add time for images.
- Copy the "X min read" label or the HTML snippet.
Features
- Reading speed presets of 175, 238 and 300 words per minute, or custom
- Speaking time at about 150 words per minute for talks and podcasts
- Strips HTML tags, scripts and styles before counting
- Optional image time (12 seconds for the first image, decreasing to 3)
- Copyable "X min read" text and HTML snippet
Benefits
- Set reader expectations with an honest reading-time label
- Plan presentation and voice-over length
- Works with content copied straight from your CMS
Frequently asked questions
Why is 238 words per minute the average?
A 2019 review of 190 studies by Marc Brysbaert estimated that adults silently read English non-fiction at about 238 words per minute on average.
How is the "min read" label rounded?
It rounds up to the next whole minute, with a minimum of 1 minute, which is how most blogs display it.
Why add time for images?
Readers pause to look at images. Some publishing platforms add about 12 seconds for the first image and less for each one after; you can turn this on if your article is image-heavy.
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