Many readers decide whether to stay based on how long an article will take. A simple estimate helps you and them.
The simple formula
Reading time (minutes) = word count / reading speed. Adults commonly read around 200 to 250 words per minute on screen, so a 1,000-word article takes roughly 4 to 5 minutes. Speaking speed is usually slower, around 130 words per minute, which matters for speeches and videos.
Get your word count
Paste your text into the Word Counter and you will see words, characters and more. Then divide.
Quick examples
- 500 words: about 2 minutes
- 1,500 words: about 6 to 7 minutes
- A 3-minute speech: about 400 words
These are estimates. Technical text and non-native readers take longer.