# What is my reading time?

Computes how long a text takes to read from its word count or page count, at an average adult reading rate (silent or aloud) or your own words per minute.

- Page: https://www.acalculator.org/everyday-life/reading-time-calculator
- JSON spec: https://www.acalculator.org/everyday-life/reading-time-calculator.json
- Version: 90d6db806d10

## Default answer

Example with the default inputs (I know Word count, Words 2,000, Reading rate Silent, non-fiction (238 wpm)): At 238 words per minute, the text takes 8 minutes, 24 seconds to read.

## Inputs

| Key | Label | Description |
| --- | --- | --- |
| know | I know | The number of words in the text, or its number of pages. |
| words | Words | The number of words in the text. |
| pages | Pages | The number of pages to read. |
| wpp | Words per page | How many words one page holds. Count a full page of your text for a better figure. |
| rate | Reading rate | An average adult reading rate from Brysbaert (2019), or your own words per minute. |
| wpm | Words per minute | Your own reading rate in words per minute. |
| daily | Minutes a day | How many minutes you read each day. Leave empty to skip the days. |

## Outputs

| Key | Label | Description |
| --- | --- | --- |
| time | Reading time | Words ÷ words per minute, rounded to the nearest second. |
| minutes | Minutes | The reading time in minutes, unrounded. |
| words | Words | The words read: given, or pages × words per page. |
| wpm | Rate (wpm) | The reading rate used, in words per minute. |
| days | Days | Whole days to finish at the minutes a day you read: minutes ÷ minutes a day, rounded up. |

## Method

Words = word count, or pages × words per page; minutes = words ÷ words per minute; days = minutes ÷ minutes a day, rounded up.

## Assumptions

- Average adult rates from Brysbaert (2019): 238 words per minute for silent reading of non-fiction, 260 for fiction, and 183 for reading aloud.
- Pages hold 250 words by default, a round figure; count a full page of your own text for a better estimate.
- The time is for one reading at a steady rate, with no breaks.

## Worked examples

1. know = words, words = 2,380, rate = nonfiction gives minutes = 10, time = {"hours":0,"minutes":10,"seconds":0}. Source: Brysbaert, M. (2019). How many words do we read per minute? A review and meta-analysis of reading rate. Journal of Memory and Language, 109, 104047. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jml.2019.104047 (238 wpm silent non-fiction).
2. know = pages, pages = 300, wpp = 250, rate = fiction, daily = 30 gives words = 75,000, minutes = 288.461538, time = {"hours":4,"minutes":48,"seconds":28}, days = 10. Source: Brysbaert, M. (2019). How many words do we read per minute? A review and meta-analysis of reading rate. Journal of Memory and Language, 109, 104047. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jml.2019.104047 (260 wpm fiction).
3. know = words, words = 1,000, rate = aloud gives minutes = 5.464481, time = {"hours":0,"minutes":5,"seconds":28}. Source: Brysbaert, M. (2019). How many words do we read per minute? A review and meta-analysis of reading rate. Journal of Memory and Language, 109, 104047. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jml.2019.104047 (183 wpm aloud).
4. know = words, words = 1, rate = custom, wpm = 120 gives time = {"hours":0,"minutes":0,"seconds":1}.

## FAQ

### How do I calculate reading time?

Divide the number of words by your reading rate in words per minute. A 2,380-word article at 238 words per minute takes 2,380 ÷ 238 = 10 minutes.

### What is the average reading speed?

A 2019 review of 190 studies (Brysbaert) puts the average adult at 238 words per minute for silent reading of non-fiction and 260 for fiction. Reading aloud is slower, about 183 words per minute.

### How long does it take to read a 300-page book?

At 250 words a page, 300 pages hold 75,000 words. At 260 words per minute that is 288 minutes, about 4 hours 48 minutes. At 30 minutes a day you finish in 10 days.

### How long is a 1,000-word speech?

Read aloud at 183 words per minute, 1,000 words take about 5 minutes 28 seconds. Pauses and slides make a talk longer, so allow extra time.

### How do I find my own reading rate?

Read for a timed few minutes, count the words you read, and divide by the minutes. Pick "My own rate" and type the result.

### How many words are on a page?

It depends on the page size, the font and the spacing. The calculator uses 250 words a page by default; count the words on one full page of your book and type that number for a better estimate.

## Sources

- Brysbaert, M. (2019). How many words do we read per minute? A review and meta-analysis of reading rate. Journal of Memory and Language, 109, 104047 (silent reading 238 wpm non-fiction and 260 wpm fiction; reading aloud 183 wpm). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jml.2019.104047 (retrieved 2026-10-02)