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Get NordVPN →Reading Time Calculator – Words to Minutes
Enter the word count and a reading speed to get the estimated reading time. Runs entirely in your browser — no signup.
Enter a word count to estimate the reading time.
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How it works
How reading time is calculated
Reading time is the word count divided by reading speed in words per minute (wpm). At 250 wpm, a 1,000-word article takes about 4 minutes. Average adult reading speed for non-technical text is roughly 200–300 wpm; technical or unfamiliar material is slower.
Choosing the right reading speed
Use 150 wpm for spoken delivery or careful study, 200–250 wpm for typical silent reading, and 300 wpm for skimming familiar content. Bloggers often display reading time using around 200–250 wpm so the estimate matches most readers.
Frequently asked questions
›What is the average reading speed?
Most adults read non-technical text at about 200–300 words per minute. 250 wpm is a common default.
›How many words is a 5-minute read?
At 250 wpm, a 5-minute read is about 1,250 words. At 200 wpm it is about 1,000 words.
›Does reading speed change with difficulty?
Yes. Technical, academic, or unfamiliar text is read more slowly than casual prose, so lower the speed for those.
›What speed should a blog use for reading time?
Around 200–250 wpm is standard and matches most readers' silent reading pace.
›Is reading time the same as speaking time?
No. Speaking is slower — about 130–150 words per minute — so use 150 wpm to approximate speech length.
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