Calculate Reading Time for an Article
How long will this take to read? Estimate reading time from word count at a pace you choose — the "5 min read" label, calculated.
Overview
The "5 min read" badge on an article is just word count divided by reading pace, and readers use it to decide whether to start. This loads a blog-length post and estimates its reading time at a selectable pace — slow, average, or fast — because a technical piece reads slower than a casual one. Reading time is the metric that turns a word count into a reader's decision; speaking time, also shown, does the same for anything read aloud.
Workflow
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Paste the article
A post or page you want a reading-time estimate for.
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Pick the pace
Slow, average, or fast — technical content reads slower.
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Read the estimate
The "X min read" label, plus speaking time for narration.
Why This Works
- Reading time is word count over pace — the same math as the "min read" badge
- A selectable pace fits technical and casual material differently
- Speaking time extends the same estimate to anything read aloud
Best for
- Adding a "min read" estimate to content
- Sizing a post for a reader's time budget
- Estimating narration length
Not for
- Exact per-reader timing — pace varies by person
- Token or cost estimates — use the Token Counter
Use cases
- Adding a "min read" estimate to content
- Sizing a post for a reader's time budget
- Estimating narration length