Why Reading Time Matters (More Than Word Count)
Reading time is the honest metric your readers actually judge you on. Here's how to use it.
Word count is for writers; reading time is for readers
Nobody but you cares that your post is 1,850 words. What they care about is 'is this worth nine minutes of my life?'. That's the question your reading-time label answers.
Every second you can shave without losing meaning is a second more likely to be spent finishing the piece — and finishing is what turns a reader into a subscriber.
The 200 WPM standard
The Text Tools Hub Reading Time Calculator uses 200 words per minute for silent reading, which is the widely-cited adult average for English. It also reports a 130-wpm speaking pace for podcasts, videos and speeches.
Those numbers are averages, not truths. Complex writing reads slower; simple writing reads faster. But for a public label, 200 wpm is the accepted convention and matches what Medium, Substack, WordPress and most blog platforms use.
Using reading time to write better
Show the reading time on your posts. Readers reward honesty; if you say '4 min read' and it takes four minutes, they trust you next time.
For pieces longer than 10 minutes, break them into clearly labelled sections so readers can jump. For pieces under 3 minutes, worry less about structure and more about a single sharp point.
Reading time for scripts and speeches
Public speaking runs at 120–150 words per minute, closer to conversational pace than silent reading. Use the speaking figure from the calculator to plan a 20-minute conference talk (2,400–3,000 words) or a 5-minute lightning talk (600–750 words).
Frequently asked questions
- Is 200 wpm accurate for me personally?
- It's an average. Fast readers hit 300+; slower or non-native readers may be closer to 150. For a public label, average is the right choice.
- Should I include images and code in the estimate?
- Images add about 10–15 seconds each; code blocks read at about half the pace of prose. For most posts the plain word count is close enough.
- Where should I show the reading time?
- Under the headline, next to the date. It sets expectations before the reader commits.
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