About this tool
The Reading Time Calculator is a free, in-browser tool that estimates how long a text takes to read. Paste your text (or just enter a word count) and it shows silent reading time and speaking time side by side.
The defaults reflect published research: about 238 words per minute for silent adult reading and around 130 wpm for a clear presentation pace. Both speeds are adjustable, so you can model slow technical reading or a fast conversational talk.
Your text never leaves the page — counting and timing happen entirely in your browser.
Frequently asked questions
Where does the 238 wpm default come from?
A large 2019 meta-analysis of adult silent reading found a mean of roughly 238 words per minute for non-fiction — the same benchmark popularized by Medium's read-time estimates.
What speaking speed should I use for a presentation?
Around 130 wpm is a clear, deliberate pace for talks; conversational speech is often 150–160 wpm, so adjust the speaking speed to your style.
How are words counted in the pasted text?
Text is split on whitespace, and Chinese, Japanese and Korean characters are each counted as one word since they aren't space-separated.
Is my text uploaded anywhere?
No. The word count and time estimates are computed locally in your browser and the text never leaves your device.