How is reading time calculated?

Reading time is estimated by dividing the total word count by the average adult reading speed, typically 200-250 words per minute for English text. This tool uses 238 WPM as its default, which is the commonly cited average from research studies. Technical content with code or data may take longer, while familiar content may be faster.

// JavaScript — estimate reading time (avg 238 words/min)
function readingTime(text) {
  const words = text.trim().split(/\s+/).length;
  const minutes = Math.ceil(words / 238);
  return `${minutes} min read`;
}
console.log(readingTime(articleText));

# Python — reading time estimate
def reading_time(text, wpm=238):
    words = len(text.split())
    minutes = -(-words // wpm)  # ceiling division
    return f"{minutes} min read"
print(reading_time(article_text))

Common use cases

Bloggers display estimated reading times to set reader expectations and improve engagement. Content strategists use reading time to plan article lengths for different audiences. Newsletter writers ensure emails are short enough to be read during a commute. Course creators estimate lesson duration for video script text.