Introducing the Reading Time Estimator — Word Count, WPM & Readability

The new Reading Time Estimator is live. Paste any text and instantly see how long it takes to read — at slow, average, fast, and your own custom words-per-minute speed.

What it gives you

Paste an article, blog post, newsletter draft, or presentation script and the tool immediately returns:

• Word count, character count, sentence count, and paragraph count — the full text stats panel at a glance.
• Reading time at three preset speeds: slow reader (150 wpm), average reader (238 wpm), and fast reader (400 wpm). These cover the realistic range of your audience.
• Custom WPM — set any speed from 50 to 2000 wpm. Match Medium’s 265 wpm baseline, your own measured reading speed, or a specific audience (technical experts, non-native English readers, children).
• Speaking time at 130 wpm — the recommended pace for presentations, conference talks, and scripted podcasts. Paste your script and know in seconds whether you fit the time slot.
• Readability grade — a Flesch-Kincaid band from Elementary to Graduate level. If your blog post shows “College,” simplify your sentence structure before publishing.
• Average words per sentence — a quick diagnostic for sentence complexity.

Everything updates as you type. Nothing leaves your browser.

Why reading time badges matter

The “X min read” label on a blog post or newsletter is not decoration — it is a commitment signal. Readers who see it know what they are getting into before they start, which increases both starts and completions. Readers who bounce from an article with no length signal often do so because they cannot gauge the time investment.

The Reading Time Estimator gives you the number you need before you publish. Use it during the editing pass: if your “quick guide” is showing 18 minutes, either trim it or reframe it as a deep-dive.

For speakers and podcasters

The speaking time estimate is particularly useful for scripted audio content. At 130 wpm — the comfortable, clear pace recommended by presentation coaches — a 1,300-word script runs approximately 10 minutes. Paste your script, check the speaking time, and adjust before you record or go on stage.

Try it

Open the Reading Time Estimator and paste something you are working on now. For the science behind why these numbers work, read the Reading Time Estimator Guide.