How do I calculate reading time from a word count?
Divide the word count by your reading speed in words per minute, then multiply by 60 to get seconds.
WORDS TO TIME
How long will your words take?
Estimate reading and speaking time from text, word count, or a target duration.
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Words to time
WPMReading mode
Speed
30-1000 WPMEnter a custom speed within the allowed range.
Estimated timeEnter a word count or paste text to see an estimate.
How the calculation works
Divide the number of words by your selected words-per-minute speed. For a reverse estimate, multiply your target minutes by the same speed.
Reading aloud and silent reading
Reading aloud is slower because it includes pronunciation and natural pauses. Silent reading is usually faster, but text difficulty and your own pace still matter.
Common reading time conversions
These examples use 130 words per minute for reading aloud and 238 words per minute for silent reading.
100 words46 sec / 25 sec
250 words1 min 55 sec / 1 min 3 sec
500 words3 min 51 sec / 2 min 6 sec
750 words5 min 46 sec / 3 min 9 sec
1,000 words7 min 42 sec / 4 min 12 sec
1,500 words11 min 32 sec / 6 min 18 sec
2,000 words15 min 23 sec / 8 min 24 sec
3,000 words23 min 5 sec / 12 min 36 sec
5,000 words38 min 28 sec / 21 min 1 sec
Each item shows reading aloud first, followed by silent reading.
How many words fit in a target time?
Use the reverse calculator above when you are planning a speech, presentation, voice-over, or timed reading.
1 minute130 words
3 minutes390 words
5 minutes650 words
10 minutes1,300 words
15 minutes1,950 words
30 minutes3,900 words
Useful for scripts, speeches, and articles
Check a presentation before rehearsal, plan a voice-over, estimate an article's reading time, or set a realistic writing target.
Frequently asked questions
What is a typical speaking speed?
A paced script often uses 100 to 160 words per minute. Use a custom speed when your delivery includes longer pauses or audience interaction.
How accurate is the estimate?
It is a planning estimate. Vocabulary, sentence length, subject difficulty, pauses, and your personal pace can all change the actual time.
Does the calculator save my text?
No. Text counting happens locally in your browser and the text is not sent to this site.
Can I calculate how many words fit into five minutes?
Yes. Switch to Time to words, enter your target minutes, then choose a mode and speed.
Methodology and limitations
The calculator uses words per minute for English and character-based units per minute for Chinese. Presets are practical estimates, not a promise of exact delivery time. Custom speed is the best choice when you have timed your own reading.
130 WPM reading aloud. 238 WPM silent reading.