Paste a text and get two numbers: how long it takes to read silently at a speed you control, and how long it takes to deliver out loud at a typical presentation pace. Writers use the first number; anyone rehearsing a speech, video script or podcast needs the second.
150 = careful reading · 200 = typical · 300+ = skimming
Reading and speaking time appear as soon as you add text.
How it works
Reading time is words divided by reading speed. The slider covers 100–400 words per minute: around 150 is careful reading of difficult material, 200–250 is typical adult reading of ordinary prose, and 300+ is skimming territory. The default of 200 matches what most publishing platforms assume.
Speaking time uses a fixed 150 words per minute — a comfortable presentation pace with natural pauses. Practiced radio hosts go faster, nervous speakers with slides go slower, but 150 predicts rehearsal timing within about ten percent for most people.
The estimate deliberately ignores images, code blocks and formulas, which each add viewing time a word count cannot capture. For technical articles, treat the result as a lower bound.
Practical examples
Timing a conference talk
Your slot is 15 minutes. The script shows 2 700 words — 18 minutes of speaking time. Cut about 500 words rather than planning to talk faster; rushing reads as nervousness.
Adding “X min read” to a blog
A 1 350-word article at the default 200 wpm shows about 7 minutes — the number platforms like Medium would display. Take it straight from the result panel.
A best man’s toast
Three minutes is the golden length. At speaking pace that is roughly 450 words — paste the draft and trim until the speaking time fits.
Voice-over for a product video
The video is 90 seconds. The narration script must stay near 220 words at speaking pace — check before booking the studio, not in it.
Frequently asked questions
What reading speed should I pick?
Leave 200 wpm for general audiences — it is the standard assumption for body text. Choose 150 for dense or technical material, 250 if your readers are habitual (news, fiction), and 300+ only to model skimming.
Why is speaking time so much longer than reading time?
Speech runs at roughly 130–160 words per minute while silent reading manages 200–250. Speaking requires breathing, articulation and pauses that silent reading skips — the gap is real and matters for any script.
How accurate is the speaking estimate for a real presentation?
Within about 10% for most speakers, before slide transitions and audience interaction. Add buffer for demos and questions — content should fill at most 80–90% of your slot.
Does the calculator account for images or code in the text?
No — it counts words only. A figure adds ~10 seconds of viewing time and a code block considerably more, so for technical content treat the result as the minimum.
Is reading speed different in Serbian than in English?
Measured in words per minute, Slavic languages come out slightly lower because words carry more information (cases, no articles). The difference is small — around 10% — and the slider lets you compensate.
How do platforms like Medium compute their “min read”?
Substantially the same way: word count divided by roughly 200–265 wpm, with a fixed bonus per image. Our default of 200 lands close to what most platforms show.
What about reading on a phone versus desktop?
Reading speed itself barely changes — comprehension research shows small differences at most. What changes is willingness: long texts feel longer on a phone, which is a reason to keep the minutes low, not to change the math.
Is my text stored or sent anywhere?
No. The count runs in your browser and nothing leaves your device — paste a confidential speech without a second thought.
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