A Leeds baker adds “3 min read” to every blog post and wonders if the number is right. It looks small, but it makes a promise to the reader. To keep that promise you need a sensible average reading speed, not a guess.
This guide explains the average reading speed for adults, where the numbers come from, how to work out reading time, and how UK writers can use it honestly. You will also find a free reading time calculator below. Every business and example in this article is made up.
Key takeaways
- The best-known estimate of average reading speed for adults is 238 words per minute for silent non-fiction in English.
- Fiction averages about 260 words per minute, and reading aloud is slower at about 183.
- Reading time is simply words divided by your chosen average reading speed, so state which speed you used.
- Online readers often scan, so a “5 min read” label is a guide, not proof anyone read it all.
- Treat every figure as an average. Individual speed varies a lot.
What is the average reading speed for adults?
Average reading speed is the number of words a person reads per minute, usually written as wpm. For adults reading English silently, the most-cited estimate is 238 wpm for non-fiction. It comes from a 2019 review by Marc Brysbaert, which combined 190 studies. The British Psychological Society summarises the work in its research digest on reading speed.
Many people still quote 300 wpm. The same review suggests that figure is too high as a general target. The review included participants aged between 17 and 60, and it noted that reading rate tends to fall in older age groups.
One honest limit for UK readers: the research is not a UK-only study, so there is no separate “British average reading speed” in it. Use 238 wpm as a sensible starting point for English non-fiction, and test your own audience if the number matters.
Average reading speed by situation
The table puts the main figures side by side, with their sources. Where I could not verify a number, it says so.
| Situation | Words per minute | Where it comes from |
|---|---|---|
| Adults reading non-fiction silently in English | 238 | Brysbaert 2019 meta-analysis of 190 studies |
| Adults reading fiction silently in English | 260 | Same meta-analysis |
| Adults reading aloud | 183 | Same research, preprint copy |
| English-only studies, silent reading | 236 | Reported by the British Psychological Society |
| The popular “300 wpm” figure | 300 | Brysbaert calls it unrealistic as a target for most people |
| Careful study or technical reading | Not verified | Usually slower than casual reading. Check your own pace |
The aloud figure comes from a preprint copy of the research hosted by the University of Kansas, which you can read as a preprint of the reading-rate review. Treat all of these as averages across many studies, not as a promise about any one person.
How to calculate reading time from the average reading speed
The method is the same for a blog post, a report or a book. Count the words, then divide by the speed you have chosen.
Example: a 1,500-word article at 238 wpm is 1,500 divided by 238, which is about 6.3 minutes, or roughly 6 minutes 18 seconds. Most sites round this to “6 min read”. If you write for readers who may be slower, such as people reading in a second language, round up and say so.
Start by getting a clean word count. Our word counter counts the words in your draft, and then you can drop that number into the calculator below.
Free reading time calculator
Paste your text or type a word count, choose a reading type and press the button. The calculation runs in your browser, so nothing is sent anywhere. The 200 wpm option for careful reading is my own assumption, not a measured figure.
The calculator uses the published average reading speed figures, so treat the result as an estimate. A technical report, a legal letter or a text full of numbers will usually take longer than a light article of the same length.
Reading time by word count
The chart and table below show how reading time grows with length. These are calculated values from the two published averages, not measurements from real readers.
| Content type (example) | Words | Silent at 238 wpm | Aloud at 183 wpm |
|---|---|---|---|
| Short email | 300 | 1 min 16 sec | 1 min 38 sec |
| Short blog post | 600 | 2 min 31 sec | 3 min 17 sec |
| Standard article | 1,000 | 4 min 12 sec | 5 min 28 sec |
| Long article | 1,500 | 6 min 18 sec | 8 min 12 sec |
| Guide | 2,000 | 8 min 24 sec | 10 min 56 sec |
| In-depth guide | 3,000 | 12 min 36 sec | 16 min 24 sec |
Notice how quickly the gap grows. A 3,000-word guide takes about 12 minutes and 36 seconds to read silently at the average pace, but about 16 minutes and 24 seconds aloud. If you are writing a script or a speech, use the aloud column.
What changes a reader’s speed?
An average reading speed hides a lot of variation. Several things move the number up or down for any one reader:
- Text type: fiction is read faster than non-fiction in the research, and dense material is read more slowly.
- Purpose: skimming for one fact is far quicker than reading to learn something new.
- Language: people reading in a second language often read more slowly. Not verified: an exact UK figure.
- Age and experience: the review notes that reading rate declines in older age groups. Children also read more slowly than adults.
- Difficulty reading: some readers find reading harder, including people with dyslexia, so clear layout and plain words help.
- Screen and setting: a phone on a bus is a different reading setting from a printed report at a desk.
This is why GOV.UK’s guidance on writing for GOV.UK asks writers to use plain English and aim for a reading age of 9. The point is not to write for children. It is to make the text easy for the widest range of readers, including specialists.
Do people read all the words on a web page?
Often not. Nielsen Norman Group’s research on how little users read found that on an average web page, visitors have time to read at most about 28% of the words, and about 20% is more likely. It is an older study, so treat the exact figures as a guide, but the direction still matches what most writers see: online readers scan.
You can read the full Nielsen Norman Group article on how little users read. The study assumed a reading speed of 250 wpm for highly literate users, which shows how much the assumed average reading speed shapes any “time on page” calculation.
For writers, the lesson is practical. Put the answer early, use clear headings and keep paragraphs short. A “5 min read” label tells people the length of the piece, not how much of it they will read.
How UK writers can use average reading speed
Add an honest reading time label
A reading time label helps readers decide whether to start now or save the page. Use one speed, such as 238 wpm, and apply it to every post so the labels stay consistent. If you want to know whether the page is doing its job once people arrive, see our guide on how to measure SEO copywriting performance.
Set a word budget for each format
Work backwards from the time you want to ask of the reader, using your chosen average reading speed. If you want an email read in about a minute, aim for roughly 200 to 250 words. If you are drafting a long guide, plan headings and a clear outline first. Our blog outline generator can help you structure the sections before you write.
Edit for ease, not just length
Short text can still be slow to read if the sentences are tangled. Run your draft through a readability checker to find long sentences, use a passive voice checker to see where the actor is hidden, and trim padding with a filler word checker. A sharp title also earns the first click, so test it with our headline analyzer.
Can you read faster without losing understanding?
Speed reading courses often promise thousands of words per minute. Brysbaert’s review explains why speeds above roughly 1,000 wpm are not realistic for normal reading, because the eyes can only take in a limited amount of text per fixation. Skimming is useful when you want one fact, but it is not the same as reading for understanding.
If you want to raise your own average reading speed, the honest advice is dull but sound: read more often, build vocabulary and choose a comfortable setting. Not verified: any specific percentage gain from a particular method. Be cautious about any course that guarantees one.
Common mistakes with reading time labels
- Using 300 wpm as your average reading speed by default. It makes articles look shorter than they feel.
- Mixing speeds. Use the same wpm on every page, and say which one in your notes.
- Counting images or code as words. Count only the text people will actually read.
- Treating the label as a promise. It is an estimate for an average reader.
- Ignoring the reader. A good article for a UK small-business owner may read slower than a casual blog post because of the numbers and terms in it.
If you want a writer to plan the length and structure of your site content around real readers, see our guide to SEO copywriting services in the UK and our SEO content writing services guide for the UK.
Frequently asked questions about average reading speed
What is the average reading speed per minute?
For adults reading English non-fiction silently, the most-cited average reading speed is 238 words per minute. Fiction averages about 260, and reading aloud about 183. These are averages across many studies.
What is the average reading speed in the UK?
There is no separate UK figure in the research I checked. The 238 wpm estimate covers English-language studies, so use it as a starting point for UK readers and test your own audience if accuracy matters.
How long does it take to read 1,000 words?
At 238 wpm it takes about 4 minutes 12 seconds silently. Read aloud at 183 wpm it takes about 5 minutes 28 seconds. Technical or unfamiliar text usually takes longer.
Is 300 words per minute a good reading speed?
It is faster than the average reading speed found in the 2019 review. It is possible for some readers on easy text, but the review calls 300 wpm an unrealistic target for most people.
What is the average reading speed by age?
Reading rate tends to fall in older age groups and children read more slowly than adults, but I could not verify exact figures by age, so I do not give any. Not verified.
How do I work out reading time for a blog post?
Count the words, then divide by your chosen average reading speed. For a 2,000-word post at 238 wpm, that is about 8 minutes 24 seconds, usually shown as “8 min read”. You can use the calculator in this article.
Does reading speed affect SEO?
I am not aware of Google saying reading time is a ranking factor, and no tactic here guarantees rankings. Google’s guidance is to create helpful, people-first content, so use reading time as a reader aid.
Why do people read less online than on paper?
Nielsen Norman Group found that web visitors often read only a fraction of the words on a page. Many scan for what they need, so clear headings, short paragraphs and an early answer help.
For a wider view of writing for people first, see Google’s guidance on helpful, reliable, people-first content.
Final thoughts
The average reading speed for UK writers to plan around is roughly 238 words per minute for silent non-fiction, with slower figures for reading aloud and difficult text. Pick one speed, label it honestly and remember that readers scan. Use the calculator on this page, then edit for clarity, because a shorter text that is easy to read beats a longer one that is not.
Want help planning the length and structure of your own pages? Our SEO copywriting guide, copywriting guide for beginners and website copywriting checklist for small business are good next reads.
Last updated on 28 October 2026. Sources used: British Psychological Society Research Digest, Brysbaert reading-rate review (preprint copy, University of Kansas), GOV.UK content design guidance, Nielsen Norman Group and Google Search Central.
- I’m Saba Sheikh, a self-employed copywriter and SEO content writer specializing in website copy, landing pages, SEO blog writing, product descriptions, and email copywriting. I create search-optimized, conversion-focused content that helps startups, small businesses, and eCommerce brands grow their online presence and attract more customers.