Reading Time Estimator
Estimate how long it takes to read a piece of text based on word count and your chosen reading speed.
Inputs
Average: 200-250. Fast: 300-400. Skimming: 600+.
Reading time
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Words
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Characters
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Sentences
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Skim-read time
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About Reading Time Estimator
Typical reading speeds
Adult average: 200-250 wpm. Newspapers/blogs: 280-300. Skimming: 500-700. Speed reading claims of 1,000+ wpm typically trade comprehension for speed.
Comprehension drops with speed
Above ~400 wpm, comprehension typically falls 10-30%. The "speed reading" industry has been challenged by reading-science research showing fundamental visual / cognitive limits.
Subvocalizing
Mentally pronouncing each word slows reading. Training to "see" word groups can speed things up. But for technical or dense material, slowing down to subvocalize often improves understanding.