Article Word Count & Reading Time Calculator

Paste your text below to instantly get word count, character count, reading time, and readability analysis. Everything runs in your browser — nothing is sent to any server.

Your Text

Reading Speed

238 WPM

Average adult reads at ~238 WPM (Brysbaert, 2019). Adjust for your audience.

Words

Characters

Chars (no spaces)

Sentences

Paragraphs

0 min

Reading Time

Readability Analysis

—

Enter text to analyze

—

Paste text above to see the Flesch reading ease score and grade level.

70–100: Easy

50–69: Standard

30–49: Difficult

0–29: Very Difficult

—

Avg Word Length

—

Avg Sentence Length

—

Total Syllables

—

Syllables/Word

Frequently Asked Questions

How is reading time calculated?

Reading time is calculated by dividing the total word count by your selected reading speed (default: 238 words per minute). This average is based on research by Brysbaert (2019) measuring silent reading in English. You can adjust the slider for faster or slower audiences.

What is the Flesch reading ease score?

The Flesch reading ease score measures text difficulty on a 0–100 scale. Higher scores mean easier reading. The formula is: 206.835 − 1.015 × (words/sentences) − 84.6 × (syllables/words). A score of 60–70 is considered standard for most web content.

Is my text stored or sent anywhere?

No. All analysis runs entirely in your browser using JavaScript. Your text never leaves your device — nothing is sent to any server or third-party service. You can even use this tool offline once the page is loaded.

How are syllables counted?

Syllables are estimated using a heuristic algorithm that counts vowel groups in each word, with adjustments for silent-e endings and common patterns. While not 100% perfect (no algorithm is), it provides a reliable approximation for readability scoring.