Reading Time
Convert a word count into the minutes and hours it takes to read.
About Reading Time
Dividing the total word count by a reading speed gives the minutes, and scaling to 60 gives hours. The default speed of 230 words per minute reflects a typical adult reader of online content. Sharing reading time with readers respects their attention and sets honest expectations for how long an article or report will take.
Formula
Reading Time
Reading time = words / words-per-minute
- words-per-minute
- How many words an average reader scans in a minute
Worked example
With the default values below, Reading Time returns Reading Time of 6.5. Change any input above and every figure here is recalculated in your browser.
Inputs used
- Word countminimum 0
- 1,500
- Reading speedminimum 1 words/min
- 230 words/min
Results
- Reading Time
- 6.5 min
- Reading Seconds
- 391
- Reading Hours
- 0.11
Step by step
- 1Values used
- 2Reading Time
- 3Reading Time= 6.5 min
- 4Reading Seconds= 391
- 5Reading Hours= 0.11
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 2 decimal places, 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 Time calculated?
Reading time = words / words-per-minute Dividing the total word count by a reading speed gives the minutes, and scaling to 60 gives hours. The default speed of 230 words per minute reflects a typical adult reader of online content.
Why does Reading Time matter?
Sharing reading time with readers respects their attention and sets honest expectations for how long an article or report will take.
What values do I need to enter?
This calculator takes 2 inputs: Word count, Reading speed. The pre-filled defaults are a realistic starting point — replace them with figures from your own environment for a result you can act on.