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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How to Calculate Reading Time
Paste Your Text
Copy and paste your article, blog post, or document into the text area.
Set Reading Speed
Choose Slow (150 WPM), Average (238 WPM), Fast (350 WPM), or enter a custom reading speed.
Get Your Result
Click Calculate to get an instant reading time estimate displayed in minutes and seconds.
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is reading time calculated?
Reading time is calculated by dividing the word count by your selected reading speed (WPM). Images add extra time using Medium's algorithm — the first image adds 12 seconds, and each subsequent image adds progressively less time.
What is a good reading speed?
Average adult reading speed is around 200–250 words per minute. Our default is 238 WPM. Slow readers read around 150 WPM and fast readers around 350 WPM.
Can I use a custom WPM?
Yes. Click the Custom button and enter any reading speed between 50 and 1000 words per minute to get an estimate tailored to your pace.
Does it account for images in the text?
Yes. The calculator detects image references in the text and adds extra reading time using the same algorithm Medium uses for estimated read times.
Related writing tools
Word count, character limits, case conversion, placeholder text, and secure passwords.