How reading time is calculated, and why estimates differ
Reading-time labels divide word count by a reading speed. The speed you choose matters more than anything else, so here is what research says about it.
“5 min read” labels help readers decide whether to start now or save an article for later. They are simple estimates, and knowing how they are made tells you how much to trust them.
The formula
Reading time is the number of words divided by a reading speed in words per minute (wpm):
minutes = words ÷ words per minuteA 1,500-word article read at 238 wpm takes about 6 minutes 18 seconds. Most sites round to whole minutes. The word count is easy to get right; the speed is the assumption that changes the result.
Which reading speed to use
Figures such as 200, 250 or even 300 wpm circulate online, often without a source. The most thorough review we know of is a 2019 meta-analysis by Marc Brysbaert, which combined 190 studies with around 18,500 participants. It estimated the average silent reading rate of English-speaking adults at about 238 wpm for non-fiction and 260 wpm for fiction.
Toolora’s Reading Time Calculator defaults to 238 wpm because most texts people measure, such as articles, study material and reports, are non-fiction. You can change it.
Source: Brysbaert, M. (2019). How many words do we read per minute? A review and meta-analysis of reading rate. Journal of Memory and Language, 109, 104047.
Open the Reading Time CalculatorPaste a text and adjust the speed to your audience.Speaking time is slower
Reading aloud is slower than reading silently because every word has to be pronounced and the audience needs pauses. Speakers vary widely, so treat any single figure as a starting point; around 130 to 150 wpm is a common planning range for presentations. Time yourself reading one paragraph aloud, divide the words by the seconds and multiply by 60 to get your own rate.
When to adjust the estimate
- Technical or dense material such as textbooks, legal text or code is read more slowly. Use a lower speed, or plan extra time for study.
- Second-language readers generally read more slowly than native readers.
- Images, tables and code blocks take time to look at but contain few words. Some publishers add a few seconds per image.
- Skimming is faster than reading, but comprehension drops. Estimates assume normal reading.