Reading Time Calculator

How long does it take to read 1,000 words

An average adult reads English non-fiction silently at about 238 words a minute, so 1,000 words take about 4 minutes. Fiction is read a little faster, at about 260 words a minute, which is still about 4 minutes for 1,000 words. These averages come from Brysbaert's 2019 review of 190 studies, which found most adults between 175 and 300 words a minute for non-fiction.

A slow reader at 150 words a minute needs about 7 minutes for 1,000 words, and a fast one at 300 words a minute about 3. Dense or technical text and reading in a second language slow most people down, so pick the slow speed for them.

How long is a speech or a talk

People speak at 130 to 160 words a minute in presentations and speeches, and the calculator uses 150. A 2,000 word speech runs about 13 minutes, and between 12 and 15 minutes across that range.

Pauses, slides and audience reactions add time. A 10 minute slot holds about 1,500 words at 150 words a minute, and about 1,300 if you speak slowly or pause often.

How long is an audiobook

ACX, the Audiobook Creation Exchange where authors produce audiobooks, estimates about 9,300 words per finished hour of narration, or 155 words a minute. That puts an 80,000 word novel at about 8 hours 36 minutes and a 50,000 word book at about 5 hours 23 minutes.

It is a planning estimate. A narrator who is slower, a book with a lot of dialogue and long pauses all make the finished audio longer, and a recorded sample shows the real pace of a voice.