How to use this tool
- Paste only the text that will actually be read.
- Enter a words-per-minute rate between more than zero and 1,000.
- Choose Estimate time, then adjust the pace to compare scenarios.
Understanding the output
The duration is the word count divided by your chosen reading speed, converted to seconds and rounded upward. The initial 200-word-per-minute setting is an editable scenario, not a measured average or a promise about an individual reader.
Check how the passage is counted with the Word Counter before comparing the estimate with another editor.
One hundred words at two hundred per minute
A passage of 100 words at 200 words per minute takes 0.5 minutes, or 30 seconds. Lowering the rate to 100 words per minute gives one minute.
Set the pace for the actual task
Silent reading, a presentation, and an instructional voice-over have different rhythms. A technical explanation may require pauses to inspect a formula or diagram. A speech may include deliberate emphasis and time for an audience reaction. Choose a rate that reflects a timed sample of your own work when the deadline is important.
For a presentation, compare the estimate with a rehearsal rather than cutting content solely to meet the calculated duration. Add separate time for demonstrations, questions, transitions, and slides with little text. Those activities are not represented by a word total.
Use estimates to plan, then measure
The result is useful when comparing two drafts or allocating space in a schedule. It is less reliable as a precise completion time for an unfamiliar reader. Vocabulary, comprehension, accessibility needs, and interruptions can change the actual duration. For publication, describe an estimated read time as an approximation and avoid implying that all visitors should read at that pace.
Method and supported input
Word-like segments use English-locale Unicode segmentation. Estimated seconds equal ceiling(words × 60 ÷ words per minute).
- The chosen rate remains constant for the entire passage.
- All pasted words are included in the estimate.
Limitations
- Images, equations, pauses, and interactions add unmodeled time.
- The tool does not measure comprehension or reading ability.
Common questions
Can I estimate a speech instead of silent reading?
Yes. Enter a speaking rate based on a rehearsal and add your planned pauses separately.
Why round upward to the next second?
Rounding upward avoids reporting zero seconds for a short nonempty passage. It does not make the estimate more precise.