Reading Speed Calculator

Reading Speed is evaluated from Words Read, Time Taken and Book / Article Word Count. The calculation reports Reading Speed, Speed Category and Time to Read Book / Article.

Results

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About the Reading Speed Calculator

Reading Speed is treated here as a quantitative relation between Words Read, Time Taken and Book / Article Word Count and Reading Speed, Speed Category, Time to Read Book / Article and vs. Average Reader.

The calculator uses a multi formula configuration. Each reported value is read as a direct evaluation of the stored rules with the declared field formats and units.

Formula basis:
WPM = Words Read / Time (minutes)
Book reading time = Book Word Count / WPM

Interpret the outputs in the order shown by the result fields. Optional inputs affect only the outputs that depend on those variables.

Formula & How It Works

The calculation applies the following relations exactly as recorded in the metadata:

WPM = Words Read / Time (minutes)
Book reading time = Book Word Count / WPM

Each output field is produced by substituting the supplied inputs into the relevant relation and then applying the declared rounding or text format.

Worked Examples

Example 1: 500 words in 2.5 minutes

Inputs

word_count: 500 time_minutes: 2.5 book_words: 80000
Reading Speed: 200 WPM. Speed Category: Average reader. Time to Read Book / Article: 6.7 hours. vs. Average Reader: Reading 16% slower than the average American adult (238 WPM)

With Words Read = 500, Time Taken = 2.5 and Book / Article Word Count = 80,000 as the stated inputs, the result is Reading Speed = 200 WPM, Speed Category = Average reader and Time to Read Book / Article = 6.7 hours. Each value corresponds to the declared output fields.

Example 2: 350 words in 1 minute

Inputs

word_count: 350 time_minutes: 1 book_words: 100000
Reading Speed: 350 WPM. Speed Category: Above-average reader. Time to Read Book / Article: 4.8 hours. vs. Average Reader: Reading 47% faster than the average American adult (238 WPM)

With Words Read = 350, Time Taken = 1 and Book / Article Word Count = 100,000 as the stated inputs, the result is Reading Speed = 350 WPM, Speed Category = Above-average reader and Time to Read Book / Article = 4.8 hours. Each value corresponds to the declared output fields.

Example 3: 150 words in 1 minute (slow reader working on improvement)

Inputs

word_count: 150 time_minutes: 1 book_words: 60000
Reading Speed: 150 WPM. Speed Category: Below-average reader. Time to Read Book / Article: 6.7 hours. vs. Average Reader: Reading 37% slower than the average American adult (238 WPM)

With Words Read = 150, Time Taken = 1 and Book / Article Word Count = 60,000 as the stated inputs, the result is Reading Speed = 150 WPM, Speed Category = Below-average reader and Time to Read Book / Article = 6.7 hours. Each value corresponds to the declared output fields.

Example 4: Speed reader: 700 words in 1 minute

Inputs

word_count: 700 time_minutes: 1 book_words: 75000
Reading Speed: 700 WPM. Speed Category: Fast reader (above average). Time to Read Book / Article: 1.8 hours. vs. Average Reader: Reading 194% faster than the average American adult (238 WPM)

With Words Read = 700, Time Taken = 1 and Book / Article Word Count = 75,000 as the stated inputs, the result is Reading Speed = 700 WPM, Speed Category = Fast reader (above average) and Time to Read Book / Article = 1.8 hours. Each value corresponds to the declared output fields.

Common Use Cases

  • Calculate reading speed in WPM from a timed passage
  • Estimate time to read a book or document
  • Compare reading speed to average readers