Reading Time Calculator

Find out how long any article takes to read — or speak aloud.

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The short answer

A 1,500-word article takes about 6–7 minutes to read but 10–12 minutes to speak aloud — readers scan at ~225 wpm, speakers manage ~140 wpm. Bloggers: showing ‘6 min read’ sets expectations and reduces bounce.

How to use the reading time calculator

  1. Paste the article text.
  2. See read time and speak time.
  3. Use it for your ‘X min read’ labels.

Reading Time Calculator — FAQs

How is reading time calculated?

Word count ÷ 225 words per minute (average adult silent reading speed), rounded up to the minute.

Why is speak time longer?

Speaking averages ~140 wpm — plus pauses. A 10-minute talk needs roughly 1,300–1,500 words, not 2,250.

What’s a good blog post length?

1,000–2,000 words (4–9 min read) ranks well and holds attention. Under 300 words rarely satisfies search intent.

Does this work for Hindi or other languages?

The wpm benchmarks are for English; other languages differ. Treat the estimate as a rough guide for non-English text.

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