How to Calculate Reading Speed
What is Reading Speed?
A reading speed calculator estimates how long it will take to read a text based on your words-per-minute (WPM) reading rate. The average adult reads at 200–300 WPM; trained speed readers can achieve 1,000–1,500 WPM with reduced comprehension.
Step-by-Step Guide
- 1Count or estimate the total word count of the text
- 2Enter your reading speed in words per minute (test yourself: time how long to read 500 words)
- 3Reading time = Word count / WPM
Worked Examples
Input
80,000-word novel · 250 WPM
Result
320 minutes (5.3 hours)
Average adult reading 1 novel
Input
1,500-word article · 300 WPM
Result
5 minutes
Typical blog post
Ready to calculate? Try the free Reading Speed Calculator
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