Estimate how long it takes to read or present any text. Adjust reading speed to match your audience. Ideal for blog posts, speeches, podcasts, and presentations.
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Use this table to quickly estimate time for common content lengths:
| Word Count | Read Time (238 wpm) | Speak Time (130 wpm) | Content Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100 words | ~25 sec | ~46 sec | Short social post, email |
| 300 words | ~1 min 15 sec | ~2 min 18 sec | Short article intro |
| 500 words | ~2 min | ~3 min 50 sec | Short blog post |
| 750 words | ~3 min | ~5 min 46 sec | Medium article |
| 1,000 words | ~4 min | ~7 min 41 sec | Standard blog post |
| 1,500 words | ~6 min | ~11 min 32 sec | Long blog post |
| 2,000 words | ~8 min | ~15 min 23 sec | In-depth article |
| 2,500 words | ~10 min | ~19 min | Long-form content |
| 3,000 words | ~12 min | ~23 min | Pillar article |
| 5,000 words | ~21 min | ~38 min | White paper / guide |
| 10,000 words | ~42 min | ~1 hr 17 min | E-book chapter |
Reading time is calculated by dividing the word count by the reading speed in words per minute (wpm). The default is 238 wpm — the average adult silent reading speed based on peer-reviewed research. You can adjust the speed slider to match slower (150 wpm) or faster (400+ wpm) readers.
The average adult reads at about 238 words per minute silently. Children and struggling readers typically read at 100–150 wpm. Fast readers can reach 400–600 wpm. For most web content, designing for 238 wpm gives the most accurate estimate for a general audience.
The recommended speaking pace for presentations is 120–140 words per minute. The default of 130 wpm is widely used as the standard. Conversational speech is faster at 140–160 wpm. Slow, deliberate speeches (like Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream") averaged around 100 wpm for maximum impact.
Research from Medium shows that posts with 7-minute read times get the most engagement. That's roughly 1,600 words at average reading speed. For SEO purposes, longer posts (2,000–2,500 words, about 8–10 minute reads) tend to rank better, but engagement drops for very long pieces without good formatting.