Calculateur de Temps de Lecture — Formule

How Reading Time Is Calculated

Divide word count by reading speed. A 5,000-word article at 250 words per minute takes 20 minutes. That's the core of it.

The Formula

Reading Time (minutes) = Word Count / Reading Speed (WPM)

Typical Reading Speeds

Most adults read 200-250 words per minute for general content like news articles and blog posts. Technical material (legal documents, medical papers, dense textbooks) slows most people to 100-150 WPM because you stop to re-read and think. Light fiction runs faster, around 300 WPM. Skim-reading can hit 500-700 WPM but comprehension drops significantly.

When to Use This

Content creators estimating read time for blog posts (Medium and Substack display this). Presenters preparing talks and checking if their script fits the time slot. Students planning study time for assigned reading. Publishers setting expectations on article length.

What This Doesn't Account For

Images, charts, and code blocks. A 2,000-word blog post with 10 screenshots takes longer than a 2,000-word post with none, because readers pause on visual content. Dense tables and infographics can add 30-60 seconds each. If you're estimating for a page with lots of visual elements, add 10-20% to the calculated time.

Common Mistakes

Assuming everyone reads at 250 WPM. Non-native speakers, older readers, and anyone reading on mobile tend to be slower. Use 200 WPM for a conservative estimate.

Confusing reading speed with skimming speed. Most online readers scan rather than read every word. Actual time-on-page for a 5-minute article is often 2-3 minutes because people skip sections.