Reading Time Calculator
Written by Thierno Sadou Diallo, formula verified per our methodology • Last checked on 9/5/2026
Reading time is calculated by dividing the word count by the reading speed (in words per minute). For a 1,500-word text read at the average adult speed (238 words/min), the estimated reading time is about 6.3 minutes.
Explanation
This calculator estimates the time needed to read a text, from its word count and a reading speed (in words per minute). The default speed, 238 words per minute, comes from a meta-analysis covering 190 studies and over 18,500 participants (Brysbaert, 2019), which measures the average silent reading speed of an adult on common prose text — the most solid reference available on the subject, far more reliable than the round numbers (300, 400 words/min) often cited without a source. This speed varies a lot from person to person and by text: a technical or dense text is read more slowly than a novel, and a trained reader can exceed 300 words/min while an occasional reader tends to sit around 150 to 200. Adjust this setting if you know your own reading speed for a more personal result. This calculator gives a silent reading time; reading aloud is noticeably slower (about 150 words/min on average).
Example: a 1,500-word text
Inputs
Word count: 1,500. Reading speed: 238 words/min (average).
Calculation
Reading time = 1,500 ÷ 238 ≈ 6.30 minutes.
Result
This text takes about 6.3 minutes to read, a little over 6 minutes.
Frequently asked questions
Where does the 238 words-per-minute figure come from?
From a meta-analysis published in 2019 by researcher Marc Brysbaert, who compiled the results of 190 earlier studies (over 18,500 participants in total) on silent reading speed. This study notably showed that the figures often cited in the press or popular articles (300 words/min or more) are generally overestimated compared to actual measurements.
Why is my personal reading speed different?
Reading speed varies enormously depending on practice, familiarity with the text's subject, language, and age. A technical text, a foreign language, or complex vocabulary slow reading down, while a well-practiced reader on a familiar text can read noticeably faster than average. Adjust the "reading speed" field if you know your own.
Does this calculation apply to reading aloud?
No, reading aloud is noticeably slower than silent reading (about 150 words per minute on average, versus 238 silently), since pronunciation imposes a physical pace. To estimate a read-aloud time (for a speech or presentation, for example), reduce the reading speed you enter accordingly.