Words Divided by Speed

Reading time is the simplest equation in publishing: word count ÷ reading speed, with a realism tax. At 238 wpm — the widely cited average for adult readers — a 1,200-word article takes about 5 minutes. Slower, denser text drops to 180 wpm; skimming and easy prose climb toward 300. The calculator's presets span that full range.

The Overhead Is the Honesty

Raw word-time assumes you read like a machine. Real readers pause at headings, study images, re-read, and get interrupted — so published reading-time estimators add allowances per image, heading, and paragraph. The 10% overhead default approximates that for typical articles; raise it for image-heavy or technical pieces.

Why Writers Care

Content teams set reading-time targets because it predicts engagement: readers commit to a 5-minute article more readily than a 15-minute one. Estimating the time before publishing — not after — is what lets writers trim to the target. The same calculator works both ways: check your draft's length, or plan how much material fits a speaking slot.