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Reading Speed (WPM)

Measure reading speed in words per minute from a timed passage.

About Reading Speed (WPM)

Reading speed is the number of words read divided by the minutes taken, which scales up to an hourly and per-page figure. Most adults read between 200 and 300 words per minute, so measuring yours shows how much denser your reading time could be.

Formula

Reading Speed (WPM)

Words per minute = words read / minutes spent

wpm
Reading speed in words per minute

Worked example

With the default values below, Reading Speed (WPM) returns Words per Minute of 400.0. Change any input above and every figure here is recalculated in your browser.

Inputs used

Words readminimum 0
2,000
Minutes spentminimum 1
5

Results

Words per Minute
400.0
Words per Hour
24,000
Pages per Hour
96.0

Step by step

  1. 1Values used
  2. 2Reading Speed (WPM)
  3. 3Words per Minute= 400.0
  4. 4Words per Hour= 24,000
  5. 5Pages per Hour= 96.0

Assumptions and limits

  • The result is derived only from the 2 inputs listed above. Anything not among them is not part of the calculation.
  • In particular, this calculator does not take inflation, tax, fees or charges or compounding frequency into account.
  • Figures are rounded for display to 1 decimal place, so totals built from several rounded parts can differ slightly from the unrounded arithmetic.

How these calculators are built and tested is described on the Methodology page. If a figure looks wrong, please report it.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is Reading Speed (WPM) calculated?

Words per minute = words read / minutes spent Reading speed is the number of words read divided by the minutes taken, which scales up to an hourly and per-page figure.

Why does Reading Speed (WPM) matter?

Most adults read between 200 and 300 words per minute, so measuring yours shows how much denser your reading time could be.

What values do I need to enter?

This calculator takes 2 inputs: Words read, Minutes spent. The pre-filled defaults are a realistic starting point — replace them with figures from your own environment for a result you can act on.

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