Reading time calculator
Paste your text to instantly see the read-aloud (voiceover) time, silent reading time and word, character and sentence counts. It also tells you how many words fit into a 30-second spot.
Free · no sign-up · your file is processed in your browser and never sent to a server
- Voiceover time
- 0:00
- Silent reading
- 0:00
- Words
- 0
- Characters
- 0
- Characters (no spaces)
- 0
- Sentences
- 0
- Paragraphs
- 0
- Longest sentence (words)
- 0
- Fast – slow pace
- 0:00 – 0:00
Default for this language: 150 words per minute. Adjust it to your own pace.
About 75 words fit into 30 seconds.
How to use
- Paste your textType or paste your script, presentation or announcement into the box.
- Pick the language and paceChoose the text language and speaking pace; adjust the words per minute with the slider if needed.
- Read the timeSee the read-aloud and silent reading time, and how many words to cut to hit your target length.
How is the time calculated?
Time = word count ÷ words per minute. The default speeds are a typical narration pace for each language and are only a starting point: timing your own reading once and setting the slider gives the most accurate result. Languages with long words, such as German or Turkish, have fewer words per minute than English. Japanese has no spaces between words, so its pace is measured in characters per minute.
| Type of text | Suggested pace | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Ad spot, promo | Normal – fast | Short sentences, clear emphasis |
| Training video, presentation | Normal | Brief pauses after key terms |
| Documentary, audiobook | Slow – normal | Leave room to breathe between paragraphs |
| Phone system greeting | Slow | Read numbers and options clearly |
Write to a target length
Enter 15, 30 or 60 seconds in the "Target length" field to see how many words fit at the selected pace. If your text is longer, you'll see how many words to cut. When you're ready, use "Voice this text" to take it to the text to speech tool.
Common questions
How many words per minute do people read aloud?
It depends on the language, the text and the speaker. The tool's defaults are typical narration speeds; to find your own, read a paragraph aloud, time it and set the slider accordingly.
What's the difference between reading aloud and silent reading?
Silent reading is reading with your eyes, and it's noticeably faster than reading aloud. Use the read-aloud time for voiceovers, presentations and video; silent reading time suits blog posts and articles.
How are words counted?
Word boundaries are found using your browser's language rules; punctuation and spaces aren't counted. Numbers and abbreviations count as one word each.
Is my text saved?
No. The calculation happens in your browser. The "Voice this text" button only passes the text to the text to speech tool within this browser session.
Will the real voiceover have the same length?
Close, but not exact: the chosen voice, pace, how numbers are read and pauses all change the length. For an exact duration, generate the audio and listen.
Related tools
- Free text to speechHave AI read your text aloud, then play it and download it as MP3.
- IVR and phone greeting generatorVoice IVR and phone greetings and download 8 kHz WAV files.
- Video script generatorA scene-by-scene script outline from topic and length; scene one becomes a video draft.
- Online dictation: type with your voiceType with your voice: live dictation in the browser, with punctuation commands.
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