The paces behind the numbers
Silent reading averages about 240 words per minute for adults reading ordinary prose — a large research meta-analysis puts the figure near 238 wpm, with 150–350 covering most readers and difficulty levels. Speaking is limited by articulation, not comprehension: presentations sit comfortably around 140 wpm, with 110 slow-and-clear and 170 brisk. Those are this calculator's presets; the custom field overrides them with your own measured speed, which always wins.
Scripting to a time slot? Work backwards
- 5-minute talk ≈ 700 words at 140 wpm.
- 10-minute talk ≈ 1,400 words.
- 20-minute talk ≈ 2,800 words — and seasoned speakers script 10–15% under the math to leave room for pauses and slides.
- 60-second voice-over ≈ 140 words; tight radio-style reads fit ~150–160.
How the word count works
Words are counted by spaces, the same way word processors do — hyphenated compounds count as one, numbers count as words. Korean text counted this way (by 어절) works fine; languages written without spaces, like Japanese or Chinese, need a character-based method this tool doesn't attempt. And your text stays in your browser: nothing is uploaded, stored or logged.
FAQ
How long to read 1,000 words?
About 4:10 silently at 240 wpm; about 7:09 aloud at 140 wpm.
Average reading speed?
Roughly 240 wpm silently for adults; 150–350 is the normal range.
Words in a 5-minute speech?
About 700 at a comfortable 140 wpm.
Words for 20 minutes?
Around 2,800 — script a little under to breathe.
Why is aloud slower?
Your mouth caps out near 110–170 wpm; your eyes don't.