Question 1

What reading speed should I use?

Accepted Answer

200 words per minute is a common baseline for adult silent reading. Use 150 for denser or technical content, and 250 for casual, easy-to-skim writing.

Question 2

Is this the same as spoken reading time for video scripts?

Accepted Answer

Not exactly — spoken delivery is usually slower, around 130–160 words per minute depending on pacing. For a video voiceover estimate, try the 150 wpm setting as a closer approximation.

Question 3

Why does my count differ from my CMS's reading time?

Accepted Answer

Most platforms use a similar 200–250 wpm formula, but small differences in how they count words (hyphenated words, numbers, code blocks) can shift the estimate by a few seconds.

Reading Time Calculator

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