Average reading speed
Most adults read non-technical text silently at about 200 to 300 words per minute; around 230 to 240 wpm is a common average. At 230 wpm, 1,000 words take about 4 to 5 minutes to read. Technical or dense material is slower. Our word counter shows word count and estimated reading time as you type.
Speaking speed
Speech is slower than reading. A comfortable presentation pace is about 130 to 150 words per minute. A five-minute speech is therefore roughly 650 to 750 words, and a ten-minute talk around 1,300 to 1,500 words. Leave pauses for emphasis and audience reaction.
Quick reference
500 words: about 2 minutes to read, 3.5 to 4 minutes to speak. 1,000 words: 4 to 5 minutes to read, 7 to 8 minutes to speak. 2,000 words: about 9 minutes to read, 14 to 15 minutes to speak.
Pages and words
A double-spaced page in 12-point font holds roughly 250 to 300 words; single-spaced, about 500 to 600. These numbers vary with font, margins and paragraph length, so word count is the more reliable measure for assignments.
Essay and blog length
School essays are often assigned by word count: 500, 1,000 or 1,500 words. Blog posts that rank in search engines often range from 800 to 2,000 words, but usefulness matters more than length. Social media captions and meta descriptions have character limits, which our word counter also shows.
Improving reading speed
Reading more often, reducing re-reading, previewing headings and reading in a quiet environment all help. Speed-reading claims of thousands of words per minute usually come with a big loss in comprehension.
Reading goals
To read 24 books a year, at around 80,000 words per book and 230 wpm, you need roughly 6 hours per book, or about 25 minutes a day. Our New Year resolutions guide shows how to turn reading goals into daily habits.
Audiobooks
Narrators usually read at about 150 to 160 wpm, so an 80,000-word book runs about 8 to 9 hours at normal speed.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to read 1,000 words?
About 4–5 minutes at an average silent reading speed.
How many words is a 5-minute speech?
Roughly 650–750 words.
What is the average reading speed?
About 200–300 words per minute for most adults.
How many words are on a page?
About 250–300 double-spaced or 500–600 single-spaced.