Calculator
How long does it take to read? Paste your text and find out.
Get the silent reading time for slow, average and fast readers, the time to read it aloud, and a ready-made “min read” label for your post or newsletter.
- Counts words from pasted text or takes a word count directly.
- Shows reading time at 200, 238 and 300 words per minute.
- Adds speaking time, so you know how long it runs as a video or podcast.
How reading time is calculated
The average adult reads English non-fiction silently at about 238 words per minute. Slower, careful readers sit near 200, and skimmers push past 300. The calculator divides your word count by each speed and rounds to the nearest second.
Reading aloud is much slower, around 150 words per minute, which is also the pace of most narrated video and podcasts. That number tells you how long the same text runs once it becomes audio or video.
Using the “min read” label
Most blogs show an estimated read time next to the title. Readers use it to decide whether to start now or save it for later, and an honest estimate lowers bounce. Use the average-reader figure, rounded up to the next whole minute.
- Under 3 minutes: a quick read, good for news and updates.
- 7 to 10 minutes: the typical range for in-depth blog posts.
- 15 minutes and up: long reads that benefit from a table of contents.
Turn the read into a watch
A 1,500-word post is a six-minute read and about a ten-minute narration. Blog2Video turns the same post into a narrated video you can trim to any target length, so the people who will not read it can still watch it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need an account to use the reading time calculator?
Yes. The calculator is free with a Blog2Video account. Sign in with Google and you can use it right away, no credit card required.
How many words can you read in a minute?
Most adults read about 238 words per minute silently and about 150 words per minute aloud. Technical or unfamiliar material is slower, often under 200.
How long does it take to read 1,000 words?
About 4 minutes 12 seconds at an average silent reading pace, or around 6 minutes 40 seconds read aloud.
Turn this finished article into video with Blog2Video
Once this tool helps you shape the copy, headline, formatting, or angle, paste the same piece into Blog2Video and generate a narrated video from it.