Reading Time Simulator

Calculate reading time from character count. Includes 5-level reading speed presets (Japanese normal/slow/fast, English, speed reading) and custom speed.

Text

Chars (excl. spaces): 0 / Total: 0

Reading Speed

Custom Speedchars/min

How to Use

STEP 1
Paste text or enter a character count directly.
STEP 2
Select a reading speed preset or enter a custom speed (chars/min).
STEP 3
Reading time is calculated automatically.

Reading speed varies greatly between individuals. Use these results as a rough guide.
The Japanese normal speed (600 chars/min) is based on commonly cited reading research.

Tips

Displaying 'Reading time: ~3 min' on blog posts can reduce bounce rate.

Estimate reading time for business documents before sending to gauge recipient effort.

Calculate how long it takes to read a full book (~100,000 chars).

FAQ

Q1
What is the average Japanese reading speed?
Typical Japanese reading speed is 400–700 chars/min. This tool uses 600 chars/min as the 'Normal' preset.
Q2
How do I calculate for English text?
The standard English reading speed is ~200 WPM (~1,000 chars/min). Use the 'English (Normal)' preset.
Q3
What is speed reading?
Speed reading is a technique to process chunks of text at once. Skilled practitioners reach 1,500–3,000+ chars/min. This tool uses 1,500 chars/min as the speed-reading preset.