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Reading Time Calculator
Find out how long a passage, chapter or speech will take to read, silently or aloud, at an adult pace or your own student's pace.
| Pace | Speed | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Silent reading | 238 wpm | 5 min 3 sec |
| Reading aloud | 183 wpm | 6 min 33 sec |
| Presentation | 130 wpm | 9 min 14 sec |
| Custom | 90 wpm | 13 min 20 sec |
How to calculate reading time
Reading time is the word count divided by the reading speed in words per minute. An adult reading silently averages about 238 words per minute, so a 1,200-word article takes about 5 minutes.
Reading time (minutes) = word count ÷ words per minute
Worked example
You want to read a 900-word story aloud to your class, and you also want to know how long a student who reads 75 words per minute would need.
- Your read-aloud: 900 ÷ 183 = 4.92 minutes, about 4 min 55 sec
- The student: 900 ÷ 75 = 12 minutes
That gap matters when you plan timed independent reading or a test with a long passage.
Speeds used in this calculator
| Pace | Words per minute | Based on |
|---|---|---|
| Silent reading | 238 | Adult average for nonfiction (Brysbaert, 2019) |
| Reading aloud | 183 | Adult average for oral reading (Brysbaert, 2019) |
| Presentation | 130 | A clear, unhurried speaking pace; common estimates run from 100 to 150 |
Sources: Brysbaert (2019), Mental Floss on speaking rates.
How teachers use a reading time calculator
- Planning read-alouds. Fit a chapter into the minutes you have before lunch.
- Setting fair test time. Enter your slowest readers' speed to check that a long passage leaves time for the questions.
- Timing a speech. Students writing a two-minute talk can aim for about 260 words.
Not sure of a student's speed? Score a one-minute read with the WCPM calculator, or have older students take the reading speed test.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to read 1,000 words?
At the average adult silent reading speed of about 238 words per minute, 1,000 words takes around 4 minutes 12 seconds. Reading the same text aloud at about 183 words per minute takes around 5 minutes 28 seconds.
How is reading time calculated?
Divide the word count by the reading speed in words per minute. The result is the time in minutes. For example, 1,200 words at 200 words per minute takes 6 minutes.
How many words is a 5-minute speech?
At a clear presentation pace of about 130 words per minute, a 5-minute speech is around 650 words. Speakers vary widely, so time yourself reading the script once.
How do I estimate reading time for a student?
Enter the student's own words per minute in the custom speed box. For a read-aloud, their WCPM score from a fluency probe works well.
How many pages is my word count?
As a rough guide, a single-spaced page in a 12-point font holds about 500 words and a double-spaced page about 250. Fonts, margins and headings change this a lot.
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