Reading time calculator
Estimate silent reading and speaking time from a draft’s word count. Compare script lengths locally with live word, character and paragraph totals.
About Reading time calculator
The reading time calculator estimates the duration of a draft from its word count. Silent reading uses 238 words per minute, while speaking time uses 150 words per minute. The two results help distinguish a blog post’s reading length from the duration of a spoken script.
Use these figures as planning estimates for articles, speeches and presentations. Technical vocabulary, pauses, charts, audience questions and the speaker’s delivery can all make the real duration different.
How to use Reading time calculator
- Paste the article, speech or video script into Input.
- Read Reading time for the silent-reading estimate.
- Read Speaking time for the estimate at 150 words per minute.
- Edit the script to approach your target duration, then rehearse aloud to check it.
Features
- Uses a fixed rate of 238 words per minute for silent reading.
- Uses 150 words per minute for speaking, with results shown in minutes and seconds.
- Updates automatically when the word count changes.
- Shows the underlying word count so you can understand the estimate.
Common uses
- Adding an estimated reading length to an article draft.
- Shortening a presentation script before rehearsal.
- Comparing alternate voice-over scripts for the same video.
Tips
- For scripts with diagrams or live demonstrations, budget extra time beyond the word-based estimate.
Frequently asked questions
How is reading time calculated?
The word total is divided by 238 and converted to minutes and seconds. Nonempty text has a minimum displayed estimate of one second.
Can I change the words-per-minute rate?
The current interface uses fixed rates: 238 for reading and 150 for speaking. Use the displayed word total with your own rate if you have a measured personal pace.
Will the speaking estimate match a recording?
Not exactly. It does not account for pauses, emphasis, demonstrations, interruptions or other production choices. A timed rehearsal is the best final check.
Is my text uploaded or saved?
The tool processes the text in this page, on your device. It does not send the input to a conversion service or save it to an account. Advertising and ordinary website requests are separate from this local text processing. Copy or download any result you want to keep before leaving the tool.
Is my input uploaded?
Tools run in your browser. Files, text and results are not uploaded to our servers and are cleared when you leave the tool.
Your privacy comes first
Tools run in your browser. Files, text and results are not uploaded to our servers and are cleared when you leave the tool.