Reading Time Estimator
A reading time calculator divides the word count of a text by a reading speed in words per minute and reports minutes and seconds. This one updates as you type or paste, defaults to 200 words per minute, and shows the word, character and sentence counts it used so you can check the figure.
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How the estimate is calculated
Words are counted as runs of letters, digits, apostrophes and hyphens, which handles contractions and hyphenated terms as single words and works across scripts with Unicode letter classes. The count is divided by the words-per-minute value and shown as minutes and seconds; under a minute it shows seconds only. Sentences are counted from terminal punctuation, so a heading without a full stop is not a sentence.
Choosing a reading speed
| Reader and material | Words per minute |
|---|---|
| Adult, general web reading | 200 to 250 |
| Technical documentation, code samples | 100 to 150 |
| Fiction, familiar language | 250 to 300 |
| Reading in a second language | 100 to 180 |
| Skimming a news article | 400 and up |
Medium and most blog platforms assume around 265 words per minute and add time for images. Publishing a reading time is a promise about effort; rounding up is kinder than rounding down.
What is not counted
Images, code blocks and tables slow readers far more than their word count suggests. A page with several screenshots deserves an extra 10 to 15 seconds each. The calculator counts words only, so add that by hand for visual pages.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What reading speed should I use for a blog post?
200 to 250 words per minute is standard for general adult readers online. Use lower for technical content.
Are headings and captions counted as words?
Yes. Every run of letters counts. Sentence count excludes headings without terminal punctuation.
Why does my word processor give a different word count?
Word processors treat hyphenated words and numbers differently, and some count standalone punctuation. Differences of one or two percent are normal.
Is the text I paste sent anywhere?
No. Counting happens in your browser and nothing is stored.
Privacy & Security
Analyzed locally in browser.
About This Tool
This tool runs entirely in your browser. No data is sent to any server, ensuring complete privacy. Simply use the interface above to get started — no registration or login required.
Disclaimer: This tool is provided "as is" without warranty of any kind. Results are for educational and utility purposes.
Related Tools
Word & Character Counter
UtilityCount words, characters with and without spaces, sentences and paragraphs, with estimated reading time. Runs entirely in your browser.
Readability Score Checker
EducationScore text for reading difficulty across the standard formulas, and know what the numbers can and cannot tell you.
Text Case Converter
UtilityConvert text between camelCase, PascalCase, snake_case, kebab-case, CONSTANT_CASE, Title Case and sentence case. Runs entirely in your browser.