That “5 min read” label at the top of an article isn’t a guess — it’s a simple division: word count divided by an assumed reading speed, in words per minute (WPM).
The standard figures
- Silent reading (adult, general audience): ~225 WPM. This is the figure most blogging platforms and editors use by default.
- Speaking pace: ~150 WPM. Useful for estimating how long a script will take to read aloud — a podcast intro, a video voiceover, a speech.
Both are averages across a general audience; technical or dense text (think: legal contracts, academic papers) is typically read slower, and very easy, familiar text is read faster.
The formula
reading time (minutes) = word count ÷ 225A 900-word blog post: 900 ÷ 225 = 4 minutes. A 2,250-word long-form article: 2,250 ÷ 225 = 10 minutes.
Why this matters beyond curiosity
Reading-time labels are a small but real UX signal — readers use them to decide whether to start an article right now or save it for later, and publishers use them to gauge whether a draft has run too long for its format. If you’re writing for the web, a rough rule of thumb: most readers commit to articles under about 7 minutes; past that, completion rates drop noticeably unless the topic is one they’re already invested in.
Try it yourself
The Word & Character Counter shows live word count, reading time, and speaking time as you type or paste text — processed locally, nothing you write is uploaded anywhere.