How to Calculate Reading Time
Published 2026-07-14 · Updated 2026-07-14
Reading time helps writers and teams set expectations before someone opens an article, email, lesson, or internal document. The calculation is simple: divide word count by reading speed.
Reading time formula
Use this formula: reading time in minutes = word count / words per minute.
A common default for general web content is 200 to 250 words per minute. Dense technical or legal content may be slower.
Example reading time
A 900-word article at 225 words per minute takes about 4 minutes to read. A 2,000-word guide at the same speed takes about 9 minutes.
For scripts, training material, or speeches, use a lower speaking-speed estimate instead of a normal silent-reading speed.
Why reading time is useful
For blog posts and newsletters, reading time helps readers decide whether they have time now or should save the piece for later.
For workplace documents, it helps teams understand the attention cost of long updates, process docs, and training material.
Quick Summary
Divide word count by words per minute. Use a slower speed for dense content and a faster speed for light reading.