Reading Time & Speech Time Calculator
Paste a script, speech, essay or article — or just type a word count — and find out how long it takes to read and how long it takes to say out loud. Or work backwards: tell us the minutes you have, and we will tell you how many words to write. Free, instant and completely private.
Speaking / presenting time
- Slow · 100 wpm
- 0 sec
- Deliberate, formal or second-language delivery
- Average · 130 wpm
- 0 sec
- Comfortable presentation pace
- Fast · 160 wpm
- 0 sec
- Brisk, energetic delivery
Silent reading time
- Slow · 180 wpm
- 0 sec
- Dense, technical or study reading
- Average · 238 wpm
- 0 sec
- Typical adult silent reading
- Fast · 300 wpm
- 0 sec
- Light text, confident readers
Averages are starting points, not promises — the most accurate speed is your own. Time yourself reading or speaking 200 words, divide, and use that as a custom speed. See how these speeds were chosen.
The one formula behind everything
Every estimate on this site is the same honest piece of arithmetic:
Time = words ÷ words per minute · Words = minutes × words per minute
A 1,000-word text, for example, takes 7 min 42 sec to say out loud at an average speaking pace (130 wpm), but only 4 min 12 sec to read silently at an average reading speed (238 wpm). That gap is exactly why a script that “looks short” on the page can run long on stage or on camera. Our methodology page explains where those speeds come from — and why your own measured speed beats any average.
Words to minutes chart
100 to 20,000 words converted to reading and speaking time at slow, average and fast speeds — the quick-reference table.
See the full chart →For creators & speakers
How many words for a 5, 10 or 20-minute YouTube video, podcast episode, sermon or presentation — plus the pacing mistakes that make talks overrun.
Read the guide →Common word counts, converted
Speaking at 130 wpm · reading silently at 238 wpm.
| Words | Speaking time | Reading time |
|---|---|---|
| 500 | 3 min 51 sec | 2 min 6 sec |
| 1,000 | 7 min 42 sec | 4 min 12 sec |
| 2,500 | 19 min 14 sec | 10 min 30 sec |
| 5,000 | 38 min 28 sec | 21 min 1 sec |
| 10,000 | 1 h 16 min | 42 min 1 sec |