How to use it
- Paste or type the text into Text. The word count and the times update as you type.
- Choose the Reading speed: silent reading of non-fiction or of fiction, or My own speed and then type your words a minute in Your reading speed.
- Read Time to read silently for the speed you chose, and Time to read aloud for reading out loud.
- Open Time at each speed to compare the same text at each rate.
How the time is calculated
The time is the number of words divided by the words a minute, and then multiplied by 60 to get seconds. The result is rounded to the nearest second. A text of 476 words read at 238 words a minute takes 2 minutes.
time (minutes) = words ÷ words a minute
words the words of the text
words a minute the reading speed chosenWhere the rates come from
The silent reading rates come from Brysbaert's 2019 review of 190 studies with 18,573 participants: the average is 238 words a minute for non-fiction and 260 for fiction. The oral rate of 183 words a minute comes from 77 studies with 5,965 participants. The study measured English text only.
The same study finds that most adults reading non-fiction silently fall between 175 and 300 words a minute, and for fiction between 200 and 320. It notes that 300 words a minute is widely cited, and that its own estimates are lower than the numbers often quoted.
What the times do not include
- Looking up words, stopping to think, or reading a passage again. These take more time than the rate allows for.
- Tables, formulas and diagrams, which usually take longer than running text.
- Text in another language. The rates are for English, so type your own speed for a text in Turkish or another language.
- A speech you prepare to give. Reading aloud at 183 words a minute is the oral reading rate of the study, not a speaking pace.
Worked example: a text of 476 words
A text of 476 words takes 476 × 60 ÷ 238 = 120 seconds to read silently as non-fiction, which is 2 minutes. At 260 words a minute as fiction it takes 109.8 seconds, rounded to 110, or 1 minute 50 seconds. Read aloud at 183 words a minute it takes 156.1 seconds, rounded to 156, or 2 minutes 36 seconds.
| Speed | Words per minute | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Silent reading, non-fiction | 238 | 2 minutes |
| Silent reading, fiction | 260 | 1 minute 50 seconds |
| Reading aloud | 183 | 2 minutes 36 seconds |
Frequently asked questions
How many words a minute does an average adult read?
Brysbaert's review estimates 238 words a minute for silent reading of non-fiction and 260 for fiction, for adults reading English. Most adults fall between 175 and 300 words a minute for non-fiction.
Why do some sites give 250 or 300 words a minute?
The study notes that 300 words a minute is widely cited, while its own estimates are lower. This tool therefore uses the study's rates for silent reading and reading aloud.
Can I use it for a text in Turkish?
Yes, choose My own speed and type the speed you read at. The study measured reading in English, so its rates are not a measured rate for Turkish.
Is the reading time exact?
No. It is an estimate for an average adult. Careful study of a difficult subject, or a slow reader, can take much longer than the time shown.
Does my text leave my device?
No. The words are counted in your browser. The text is not stored and is not sent to our server.
Sources
Figures and text last checked on Thursday, November 12, 2026.