How Long Does It Take to Read 1,000 Words? Reading and Speaking Times
Quick answer
1,000 words takes about 4 minutes to read silently and about 7 minutes to say out loud. That uses an average silent reading speed of 238 words a minute for adults reading non-fiction, and a steady speaking pace of 150 words a minute.
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The 238 figure comes from a 2019 review of 190 reading studies by psychologist Marc Brysbaert. It found adults read non-fiction silently at about 238 words a minute, fiction a little faster at about 260, and read aloud more slowly, at about 183.
Words to minutes chart
| Words | Reading silently (238 wpm) | Speaking (150 wpm) |
|---|---|---|
| 100 | 25 sec | 40 sec |
| 250 | 1 min 3 sec | 1 min 40 sec |
| 500 | 2 min 6 sec | 3 min 20 sec |
| 750 | 3 min 9 sec | 5 min |
| 1,000 | 4 min 12 sec | 6 min 40 sec |
| 1,500 | 6 min 18 sec | 10 min |
| 2,000 | 8 min 24 sec | 13 min 20 sec |
| 2,500 | 10 min 30 sec | 16 min 40 sec |
| 3,000 | 12 min 36 sec | 20 min |
| 5,000 | 21 min 1 sec | 33 min 20 sec |
Paste your own text into our word counter to get the reading and speaking time for it straight away.
How many words for a speech?
| Speech length | Words at 150 wpm |
|---|---|
| 1 minute | 150 |
| 2 minutes | 300 |
| 3 minutes | 450 |
| 5 minutes | 750 |
| 10 minutes | 1,500 |
| 15 minutes | 2,250 |
| 20 minutes | 3,000 |
A 3 minute speech is about 450 words. If you speak slowly or plan pauses for slides or laughter, aim a little lower, around 390 words at 130 a minute.
What changes reading and speaking time
- The text. Technical writing, long words and dense tables slow readers down.
- The reader. Some people read much faster or slower than the average, and screen reading can differ from paper.
- Purpose. Skimming is faster than reading to learn or to proofread.
- Delivery. Nerves often speed people up. Pauses, questions and slides slow a talk down.
Tips for writers and speakers
- For blog posts, show a reading time near the top so readers know what they are signing up for.
- For a talk, read your script out loud with a timer once, then adjust. Your own pace beats any average.
- For video scripts, leave a little room for on-screen text and B-roll, where nobody is speaking.
Frequently asked questions
How many words is a 5 minute speech?
About 750 words at 150 words a minute.
How long does it take to read 2,000 words?
About 8 min 24 sec silently, or about 13 min 20 sec out loud.
What is a good reading speed?
A 2019 review of reading studies put the adult average for silent reading of non-fiction at about 238 words a minute. Reading much faster than that often lowers how much you take in.
How long is a 1,500 word essay to read out loud?
About 10 minutes at 150 words a minute.
