Word Count and Reading Time

Count the words, characters, sentences and paragraphs of a text, and estimate how long it takes to read. The text never leaves your browser.

Words

—

Words—

Characters with spaces—

Characters without spaces—

Sentences—

Paragraphs—

Reading time—

Read aloud—

Words per sentence—

How this was worked out

The formula

reading time = words ÷ words per minute

Where it comes from

An average adult reads about 200 words a minute silently and about 130 aloud. Technical reading drops to 100 or 150 and skimming goes above 300, so the figure is indicative.

How to work it out by hand

Count the words separated by spaces
Divide by the reading speed
The result is the approximate number of minutes

What is worth knowing

Average sentence length is a good readability signal: below 15 words the text reads easily, above 25 it becomes heavy going. This calculation happens entirely in your browser: what you paste is not sent to any server and is not stored anywhere.

Frequently asked questions

How many words are read per minute?

An average adult reads about 200 words a minute silently and about 130 aloud.

How long does it take to read 1,000 words?

About five minutes silently, or nearly eight aloud.

Is the text I paste stored?

No. The whole analysis happens in your browser and nothing is sent to any server.

What is the ideal sentence length?

Between 15 and 20 words. Above 25 comprehension falls noticeably.