Reading Time Calculator
Calculate reading time for text
Frequently Asked Questions
How is reading time estimated?
Reading time = Word Count / Reading Speed. The average adult reads 200-250 words per minute (wpm) for general content. Technical content averages 150 wpm. The calculator uses 238 wpm as the default, based on research studies.
What is the average reading speed for different content types?
Casual reading: 250-300 wpm. Business documents: 200-250 wpm. Technical/scientific: 100-150 wpm. Legal documents: 50-100 wpm. Proofreading: 100-150 wpm. Speed reading: 400-700 wpm with reduced comprehension.
Why do blogs and articles show estimated reading time?
Displaying reading time sets reader expectations and increases engagement. Studies show articles with reading time estimates get 40% more engagement. Readers are more likely to start an article when they know the time commitment.
How do I calculate reading time for content with images?
Add 12 seconds for the first image, 11 for the second, decreasing by 1 second each until reaching 3 seconds per image. For a 1,000-word article with 5 images: text time (4.2 min) + image time (50 sec) ≈ 5 minutes.
What is the ideal article length for SEO?
Long-form content (1,500-2,500 words, 6-10 min read) tends to rank higher in search results. However, quality matters more than length. The calculator helps you target specific reading times when planning content.