Blogging
Why Blog Posts Should Show a Reading Time (and How to Calculate It)
February 2026 · 1 min read · TextSpark Tools
You have seen labels like "5 min read" on many popular blogs. They exist because readers like to know the time commitment before they start, especially on a phone.
How reading time is calculated
The formula is simple: divide the total number of words by an average reading speed. Most adults read non-fiction at about 200 to 250 words per minute, so a 1,000-word article takes roughly four to five minutes.
Adjusting for your audience
- Learners and children read more slowly, about 100 to 150 words per minute
- Technical or academic text is usually read more slowly than a casual article
- Fast readers and professionals can reach 300 words per minute or more
When to show reading time
- Long-form articles of 800 words or more
- Tutorials and how-to guides
- Newsletters and long updates
For very short posts you can skip it, since readers can judge the length at a glance.
Speaking time
If you are preparing a talk or podcast script, use a slower speed of about 130 words per minute. That tells you how long the script will take to deliver aloud.
👉 Try it now: Reading Time Calculator — free, instant and no signup required.