TEXT TOOLS
Reading and Speaking Time Calculator
Need to know how long a blog post will take to read, or whether a speech fits its time slot? Type or paste your text into this calculator to see its word count with an estimated reading time and speaking time. It runs in your browser, and you don't need an account.
Reading and speaking time
Time = words ÷ words per minute, rounded to the nearest second. Defaults: 238 reading and 130 speaking words per minute.
How to use the calculator
- Enter or paste your text into the input area.
- Check the word count the tool displays.
- Change the reading speed if the default of 238 words per minute doesn't suit your readers.
- Change the speaking speed if the default of 130 words per minute doesn't match your delivery.
- Review the estimated reading and speaking durations.
How the estimate is calculated
Each duration is the word count divided by the words-per-minute rate you select. Reading time uses the reading speed setting, and speaking time uses the speaking speed setting. For example, a 1,300-word text at 130 words per minute gives a speaking estimate of 10 minutes. The same text at 238 words per minute gives a reading estimate of about five and a half minutes.
The defaults of 238 and 130 words per minute are starting settings. They are not universal norms. If you know your own pace or your audience's pace, enter those values instead.
What to keep in mind
The result is based on word count alone. The calculator cannot measure the factors that change real time. These include how quickly you deliver the text, how many pauses you take, and how difficult the material is to read. Complex writing can slow readers down. A talk with pauses for emphasis or audience questions can run longer than a word-count figure suggests. Use the numbers to plan, and rehearse aloud when exact timing matters.
Frequently asked questions
Why are the default speeds 238 and 130 words per minute?
They are starting settings for silent reading and for speaking aloud. They are not universal rates, so you can adjust either one to fit your reader or speaker.
Will my speech take exactly the time shown?
Not necessarily. The estimate divides the word count by your chosen speaking speed. Your actual pace and pauses will change how long the speech really takes.
Do I need an account to use the calculator?
No. The tool runs in your browser without an account. Enter or paste your text to get the word count and time estimates.