Reading Time Calculator
Paste your text and get reading and speaking time from research-based rates: 238 words per minute silent, 130 spoken. Word-accurate, local, and instant.
How counting works (spec v1)
- Words are locale-aware word segments: punctuation and emoji are not words, numbers like 3.50 count as one, contractions (don't) count as one, hyphenated compounds (follow-up) count as two, and a URL or email address counts as one.
- Characters are what you perceive: a family emoji, a flag or an accented letter counts as 1. Code points, UTF-16 units and bytes are in Detailed statistics.
- Sentences use locale-aware boundaries with abbreviation handling, so Dr., e.g. and $3.50 do not split.
- Paragraphs are blocks separated by a blank line. Line counts are in Detailed statistics.
- Density uses the same words as the headline count, phrases never cross a sentence boundary, and filters change what is listed, never the percentages.
Reading time uses 238 words per minute, speaking time 130 words per minute.
Detailed statistics
*English-language estimate. For a full report use the Readability Checker.
X's own rules: every link counts as 23, emoji and CJK count as 2.
Hard limit 2,200 characters; only about the first 125 show before "more".
Guidance, not a limit: Google truncates by pixel width per device. Check the SERP preview.
No fixed limit exists; snippets are truncated to fit and often rewritten.
Keyword density checker
Density is each phrase's share of ALL words in the text (the same word count as the headline). Filters and the English stopword list only change which phrases are listed, never the percentages. Phrases never bridge two sentences.
Type or paste text above to see your top words and phrases.
Very long text: phrases are computed from the first 200,000 words.
Where the numbers come from
Most reading time widgets pick a round number like 200 or 265 words per minute with no source. This calculator uses 238, the mean silent reading rate for adults reading non-fiction in English, from the largest meta-analysis of reading speed to date (Brysbaert 2019, aggregating 190 studies). The spread around that mean is wide, roughly 175 to 300 for typical readers, which is why the honest use of the number is comparative: a 2,000 word piece is an 8-minute commitment, and cutting it to 1,200 words makes it 5.
Speaking pace is slower than reading pace: 130 words per minute is a natural presentation speed with pauses. The gap between the two stats on this page is the reason reading a script aloud always takes nearly twice as long as reading it silently, the classic surprise of first-time conference speakers.
Reading time FAQ
What reading speed does this calculator use?
Silent reading time uses 238 words per minute, the average adult rate for non-fiction found in a 2019 meta-analysis covering 190 studies and over 18,000 participants (Marc Brysbaert, Journal of Memory and Language). Speaking time uses 130 words per minute, a comfortable presentation pace. Both apply the same language-aware word count shown in the stats, so the estimate is consistent with the number you see.
How accurate is a reading time estimate really?
It is an average, and honest tools say so. Skimmers move at 400+ words per minute, careful readers of technical material drop under 150, and unfamiliar vocabulary slows everyone. Treat the estimate as a comparison metric between your own pieces and as reader-facing guidance ("7 min read"), not as a stopwatch prediction for any individual.
How long does it take to present a script?
Divide by 130 words per minute for a natural conference pace, which is what the speaking time stat does. A 5-minute talk is roughly 650 words; a 20-minute keynote is about 2,600. Slow down for emphasis and Q&A: seasoned speakers write 10 percent fewer words than the slot allows.
Should I show reading time on my blog posts?
Usually yes: it sets expectations and measurably reduces bounce on long pieces, which is why most major publications adopted it. Use words divided by 238, round to the nearest minute, and resist inflating it downward; readers notice when a "4 min read" takes ten.
Does my text leave my device?
No. The calculation runs in your browser, works offline once the page is loaded, and drafts are saved only on this device under a visible toggle.
More free tools: Word Counter · Readability Checker · Sentence Counter · Character Counter · Keyword Density Checker