Reading Time Estimator (silent reading and speech)
Estimate how long a text takes to read. Chinese and Japanese are measured in characters per minute, English and other languages in words per minute, and every speed can be adjusted. Results are estimates.
- Runs in your browser (no upload)
Chinese and Japanese are measured in characters, other languages in words (up to 300,000 characters).
Estimated time (approximate)
| Part | Count | Speed | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Words (English etc.) | 49 words | 238 words/min | 12.4 s |
Where the default speeds come from
- English etc.: silent 238 words/min, aloud 183 words/min — the averages of a meta-analysis of adult reading rates in English (Brysbaert, 2019; silent value for non-fiction).
- Chinese: silent 390 chars/min, aloud 228 chars/min — the same review's Chinese averages (silent 260, aloud 152 words/min) converted with the paper's own estimate of 1.5 characters per word.
- Japanese: silent 500 chars/min, aloud 300 chars/min — no reliable study could be verified, so these are working assumptions. Adjust them to your own pace.
- Punctuation, symbols and emoji are not counted. Words in other languages (such as Vietnamese) use the "English (and other)" speed.
How to use
- Paste the text you want to read.
- Choose silent reading or reading aloud / speech, and adjust the Japanese, Chinese and English speeds to your own pace if you like.
- The estimated time and a breakdown by characters and words appear instantly.
FAQ
Where do the default speeds come from?
English uses the averages of a meta-analysis of adult reading rates (Brysbaert, 2019): 238 words per minute silently and 183 aloud. Chinese uses the same review's Chinese averages converted at 1.5 characters per word. For Japanese no reliable study could be verified, so 500 (silent) and 300 (aloud) characters per minute are working assumptions.
How is mixed Japanese and English text handled?
Chinese/Japanese characters are timed at the Japanese (or Chinese) speed and words at the English speed, and the two are added. Punctuation, symbols and emoji are not counted.
Can I time a speech?
Choose "Reading aloud / speech" to use speaking speeds. Speaking pace varies a lot, so timing yourself once and entering your own speed makes the estimate more accurate.
Notes & limitations
- What you enter is processed only on this page and is not sent to YUCTS servers.
- Results are estimates. Reading speed varies a lot with the person, the difficulty of the text and the purpose (skimming or careful reading).
- The default Japanese speeds are assumptions to adjust, not values from a cited study.
- Words in languages other than English (such as Vietnamese) use the same speed as English. Change it if needed.
Data sources
- Brysbaert, M. (2019). How many words do we read per minute? A review and meta-analysis of reading rate. Journal of Memory and Language, 109, 104047.(opens in a new tab) (Journal of Memory and Language 109 (2019) 104047) — Checked on: 2026-11-06
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