Free · Private · Runs in your browser
Reading Time Calculator – Words to Minutes & Speech Time
Paste your article or enter a word count to convert words to minutes for silent reading, speeches, and podcasts — plus estimated page count.
If you paste text, its word count overrides the manual number.
200 wpm
Reading time at 200 wpm
–
0 words
How long does it take to read…?
Quick answers for the word counts and speech durations people search for most. Click any word count in the chart to load it in the calculator.
How long does it take to read 1000 words?
At the average adult reading speed of 200 words per minute, 1000 words takes about 5 minutes to read silently. Slow readers or speakers (130 wpm) take about 7 minutes 40 seconds; fast readers (300 wpm) finish in about 3 minutes 20 seconds.
How long to read 500, 1500, or 2000 words?
At an average 200 wpm pace, 500 words takes 2.5 minutes, 1500 words takes 7.5 minutes, and 2000 words takes 10 minutes. For spoken scripts or podcasts (130–150 wpm), 1500 words takes roughly 10 to 11.5 minutes.
How many words is a 5 minute speech?
A 5-minute speech is about 650–750 words. Most speakers deliver 130 words per minute (careful presentation pace with pauses) to 150 words per minute (conversational pace). Paste your script into the calculator above and select 130 wpm to test your timing.
How many pages is 1000 words?
Roughly 2 pages single-spaced or 4 pages double-spaced using standard 12pt font and 1-inch margins (about 500 words per single-spaced page and 250 words per double-spaced page).
Quick reference: words to reading & speaking time
| Word count | Reading (200 wpm) | Fast read (300 wpm) | Speaking (130–150 wpm) | Pages (Single / Double) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100 words | 30 sec | 20 sec | 40 – 45 sec | 0.2 / 0.4 pages |
| 250 words | 1 min 15 sec | 50 sec | 1 min 40 sec – 1 min 55 sec | 0.5 / 1 page |
| 300 words | 1 min 30 sec | 1 min | 2 min – 2 min 20 sec | 0.6 / 1.2 pages |
| 500 words | 2 min 30 sec | 1 min 40 sec | 3 min 20 sec – 3 min 50 sec | 1 / 2 pages |
| 750 words | 3 min 45 sec | 2 min 30 sec | 5 min – 5 min 45 sec | 1.5 / 3 pages |
| 1,000 words | 5 min | 3 min 20 sec | 6 min 40 sec – 7 min 40 sec | 2 / 4 pages |
| 1,200 words | 6 min | 4 min | 8 min – 9 min 15 sec | 2.4 / 4.8 pages |
| 1,500 words | 7 min 30 sec | 5 min | 10 min – 11 min 30 sec | 3 / 6 pages |
| 2,000 words | 10 min | 6 min 40 sec | 13 min 20 sec – 15 min 25 sec | 4 / 8 pages |
| 2,500 words | 12 min 30 sec | 8 min 20 sec | 16 min 40 sec – 19 min 15 sec | 5 / 10 pages |
| 3,000 words | 15 min | 10 min | 20 min – 23 min | 6 / 12 pages |
| 5,000 words | 25 min | 16 min 40 sec | 33 min 20 sec – 38 min 30 sec | 10 / 20 pages |
| 10,000 words | 50 min | 33 min 20 sec | 66 min – 77 min | 20 / 40 pages |
Speech duration to word count (1 to 20 minutes)
Planning a presentation, wedding toast, TED talk, or YouTube video script? Use this chart to find your target word count based on speaking time:
| Speech length | Careful pace (130 wpm) | Average pace (150 wpm) | Fast pace (170 wpm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 minute speech | 130 words | 150 words | 170 words |
| 2 minute speech | 260 words | 300 words | 340 words |
| 3 minute speech | 390 words | 450 words | 510 words |
| 5 minute speech | 650 words | 750 words | 850 words |
| 7 minute speech | 910 words | 1,050 words | 1,190 words |
| 10 minute speech | 1,300 words | 1,500 words | 1,700 words |
| 15 minute speech | 1,950 words | 2,250 words | 2,550 words |
| 20 minute speech | 2,600 words | 3,000 words | 3,400 words |
Need the exact metrics for your own draft? Use the calculator above, run your text through the text analyzer for Flesch readability, polish your title with the headline checker, or format headings with the case converter.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to read 1000 words?
About 5 minutes at the average adult silent reading speed of 200 words per minute. Slow readers (130 wpm) take about 7 minutes 40 seconds, and fast readers (300 wpm) take about 3 minutes 20 seconds.
How long does it take to read 500 or 2000 words?
At an average speed of 200 wpm, 500 words takes 2.5 minutes (2 minutes 30 seconds) and 2000 words takes 10 minutes to read silently.
How many words per minute does the average person read?
Around 200 words per minute for adults reading non-technical material silently. Slow or careful reading is about 130 wpm, and fast skimming is about 300 wpm.
How many words is a 5-minute speech?
About 650–750 words. Most presenters speak at 130–150 words per minute, so 650 words is ideal for a calm, clear 5-minute presentation with pauses.
How many words is a 10-minute speech?
A 10-minute speech is approximately 1,300 to 1,500 words, assuming a natural speaking pace of 130 to 150 words per minute.
How many words fit on a page?
Roughly 500 words per page single-spaced, or 250 words per page double-spaced, using standard 12-point font and 1-inch margins.