Reading Time Estimator
Estimate reading time and analyze text complexity. Shows word count, sentence stats, readability score, and reading times at different speeds.
Slow reader
under 1 min
150 WPM
Average
under 1 min
200 WPM
Fast reader
under 1 min
300 WPM
Words
103
Characters
643
No spaces
539
Sentences
6
Paragraphs
3
Unique words
80
Avg word length
5.1 chars
Avg sentence
17.2 words
50.6
/ 100
Flesch Reading Ease
Fairly Difficult (10th-12th)
Higher scores = easier to read. Aim for 60-70 for general audiences.
How to Use Reading Time Estimator
- 1Paste or type your text into the editor.
- 2See estimated reading time at multiple reading speeds.
- 3Review word count, sentence count, and paragraph stats.
- 4Check the Flesch readability score for audience targeting.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is an average reading speed?▾
The average adult reads 200-250 words per minute (WPM) for non-fiction text. Skilled readers average 250-350 WPM. Speed readers can reach 400-700 WPM, though comprehension decreases at higher speeds. Children read slower: 50-100 WPM for early readers. Technical or complex content is read more slowly (100-200 WPM). Skimming mode can reach 700-1000+ WPM with reduced comprehension.
What is the Flesch Reading Ease score?▾
The Flesch Reading Ease formula rates text on a scale from 0 (very hard) to 100 (very easy): 90-100 (5th grade, very easy), 70-80 (7th grade, easy), 60-70 (8th-9th grade, standard), 50-60 (10th-12th grade, fairly difficult), 30-50 (college level, difficult), 0-30 (professional/graduate, very difficult). Most websites aim for 60-70 for general audiences. Technical documentation is typically 30-50. The formula: 206.835 − 1.015 × (words/sentences) − 84.6 × (syllables/words).
How many words should a blog post be?▾
Blog post length depends on the goal: 300-600 words for quick updates, 800-1200 for standard blog posts, 1500-2500 for pillar content targeting competitive keywords, 3000+ for comprehensive guides. SEO research suggests longer content (1500+ words) tends to rank better for competitive keywords, but only if the depth is warranted. Skimmable content (headers, bullet points, short paragraphs) is essential for long posts. Average reading time for a 1500-word post: ~6 minutes.
How is the reading time calculated?▾
Reading time = word count ÷ words per minute (WPM). The WPM rate varies by reader: slow (150 WPM, careful readers, non-native speakers), average (200 WPM, typical adult), and fast (300 WPM, skilled readers). Published research (Brysbaert 2019) puts average silent reading at 238 WPM. We round to the nearest minute and show a minimum of "under 1 minute" for short texts. Technical content, code, and formulas should be treated as 100-150 WPM.
What is a good sentence length for readability?▾
Short sentences (under 20 words) are easier to read. Medium sentences (20-30 words) are acceptable. Long sentences (30+ words) become hard to parse. Best practice: vary sentence length for rhythm, but keep average sentence length under 25 words for general audiences. Short paragraphs (2-4 sentences) with clear topic sentences improve scanability. Using active voice, concrete nouns, and common words all improve Flesch scores.