Reading time calculator
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Worked example
Reading time is a word count divided by a reading speed. The only honest part is which speed you picked, so this one lets you change it.
Reading time at 230 words per minute, the average adult pace for familiar prose. Speaking time uses 140, a presentation pace rather than an auctioneer's.
| Words | 63 |
|---|---|
| Reading time (230 wpm) | 0m 16s |
| Speaking time (140 wpm) | 0m 27s |
Why it matters
Blog platforms quote "5 min read" from a fixed rate, usually 200 or 265 words a minute. Technical writing is read far slower than a newsletter, and read-aloud pace is about 140. One rate cannot describe both, which is why the rate here is an input rather than a constant.