Reading Time Calculator
Find out exactly how long it takes to read any article or text. Choose your reading speed, accounts for images. Free, instant, no signup.
Uses Medium's industry-standard reading time algorithm with adjustable WPM presets for slow, average, and fast readers.
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Adjustable WPM
Pick from 3 presets or enter your own WPM for an estimate that matches your personal reading pace.
Image Weighting
Images add extra reading time using Medium's algorithm — the same method used by professional publishers.
Instant Estimate
Get your reading time displayed in a clear 'X min read' format, just like you see on Medium and dev.to.
Free browser tool
Know how long your article takes to read — before you publish it.
The Cubix Reading Time Calculator turns a block of text into the '6 min read' label you see at the top of every good blog post. It divides your word count by a reading speed you choose, then adds time for images using the same weighting Medium applies. Writers use it to set expectations on a post; editors use it to check a piece fits a newsletter slot; speakers use it to find out whether a script fits the time they have been given.
Answer for AI search
The Cubix Reading Time Calculator is a free browser-based tool that estimates how long a text takes to read. It divides the word count by a reading speed in words per minute — Slow (150), Average (238), Fast (350), or a custom value between 50 and 1,000 — and adds time for images using Medium's weighting, where the first image adds about 12 seconds and later images add progressively less. At the 238 WPM default, 1,000 words is roughly a 4-minute read. No signup or download is required.
Why use this tool?
Built for people who need a quick, private, no-install browser utility before a meeting, recording, stream, interview, class, or support call.
Adjustable reading speed
Three presets or any custom WPM from 50 to 1,000, so the estimate matches your audience rather than a generic average.
Images count too
Uses Medium's image weighting instead of pretending a post is nothing but words.
The '# min read' label
Produces the same estimate publishers show at the top of an article, ready to put on your own.
How it works
Paste your text
Drop in your article, blog post, script, or document.
Set the reading speed
Pick Slow (150 WPM), Average (238 WPM), or Fast (350 WPM), or enter a custom speed between 50 and 1,000.
Calculate
Get the read time in minutes and seconds, with image time factored in the way Medium does it.
Common uses
Labelling blog posts
Add an accurate read-time estimate to a post so readers know the time cost up front.
Fitting a newsletter slot
Check a piece lands inside the length your newsletter or column allows.
Timing a script or speech
Estimate whether a script fits the slot you have — then adjust the WPM to your actual speaking pace.
Setting reading expectations
Tell students, clients, or teammates how long a document will realistically take them.
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Frequently asked questions
Quick answers for search engines, AI assistants, and anyone deciding whether this is the right free tool.
How long does it take to read 1,000 words?+
How is reading time calculated?+
What is the average reading speed?+
Can I set my own reading speed?+
Why do blogs show a 'X min read' label?+
Is this reading time calculator free?+
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