How long to read 1000 words aloud: about 7 min 42 sec.
Reading 1000 words aloud takes about 7:42 (minutes:seconds) at a steady 130 words per minute. A slow, careful reading at 100 takes 10:00, and a brisk 170 takes 5:53. Silent reading is quicker, about 4:10 at 240 words per minute, while a speech to a room usually runs slower than a reading because of pauses, so plan on the 110 to 130 range. The calculator starts at 1000 words. Paste your own text to time it, then send it to the text to speech reader if you want to listen to it.
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No text pasted, so this word count is used.
How long to read 1000 words aloud at four paces
Minutes and seconds, calculated as words divided by words per minute. The pace is stated in each column.
| Words | 100 wpm | 130 wpm | 150 wpm | 170 wpm |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 250 words | 2:30 | 1:55 | 1:40 | 1:28 |
| 500 words | 5:00 | 3:51 | 3:20 | 2:56 |
| 750 words | 7:30 | 5:46 | 5:00 | 4:25 |
| 1,000 words | 10:00 | 7:42 | 6:40 | 5:53 |
| 1,500 words | 15:00 | 11:32 | 10:00 | 8:49 |
| 2,000 words | 20:00 | 15:23 | 13:20 | 11:46 |
The 1000 word row is the answer to the question on this page. The others help if your text is shorter or longer: 500 words at 130 words per minute is 3:51, and 2000 words is 15:23. For a full table around 1500 words, see 1500 words speaking time.
Reading aloud, reading silently and giving a speech
The same 1000 words take very different times depending on how you use them. Silent reading skips ahead, skims and takes in groups of words. Reading aloud sounds out every word, so it cannot go faster than speech.
- Silent reading: about 240 words per minute for adult non-fiction, so 1000 words take about 4:10. This figure comes from reviews of reading research and varies a lot between people.
- Reading aloud: about 130 words per minute for a steady read, 7:42 for 1000 words.
- Audiobook narration: about 150 to 160 words per minute, so 6:15 to 6:40.
- Speech or presentation: about 110 to 150 words per minute, plus pauses, so roughly 7 to 9 minutes before pauses.
So reading aloud takes about twice as long as reading silently. That gap is why a page that looks quick to skim can run long when you read it to a group.
What slows you down when reading aloud
Pace is not constant. Several things push it below 130 words per minute.
- Unfamiliar words and names: you slow down to say them correctly.
- Numbers and lists: each item needs a beat.
- Dialogue: changing voices and pausing between speakers adds time.
- Reading to children: pictures, questions and expression usually bring the pace down to 100 to 120 words per minute, so 1000 words take 8:20 to 10:00.
- Nerves: some people speed up under pressure, which is why a live read can finish earlier than a rehearsal.
If your text is heavy in any of these, use the slower pace buttons.
Time your own text, step by step
A word count is only an estimate until it meets your actual text.
- Paste your text into the box above. The word count box is ignored while the text box has words in it.
- Choose a pace button, or type the pace you measured. The large figure is the reading time.
- Add 10 or 20 percent if you will stop for questions, slides or breaths.
- Check the table below. It shows the same text as a speech, a podcast and an audiobook.
No text on hand? Press Try a sample to load a short passage and see how the figures move.
Measure your own pace in one minute
Pick a paragraph, start a timer and read it aloud the way you will in front of people. Divide the words in the paragraph by your seconds and multiply by 60. If a 130 word paragraph takes you 52 seconds, your pace is 150 words per minute, because 130 ÷ 52 × 60 is 150. Type that number into the pace box.
| Format | Typical pace | Your text | Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Speech or presentation | 110–150 wpm | 0:00 | 0:00 – 0:00 |
| Podcast or conversation | 150–170 wpm | 0:00 | 0:00 – 0:00 |
| Audiobook narration | 150–160 wpm | 0:00 | 0:00 – 0:00 |
| Text to speech, this site | about 150 wpm, set by the Pace slider | 0:00 | 0:00 – 0:00 |
Hear it read aloud with text to speech
You can check a reading time by listening instead of calculating. Press Try a sample, press the generate button, and the passage opens in the text to audio tool with the pace set to match. The real length of the audio appears when it is ready, and you can compare it with the estimate on this page.
1000 words are about 6,000 characters. The free plan reads 1,000 characters a day, which is about 170 words, so on the free plan listen to a section and scale up: if 170 words take 70 seconds, 1000 words take about 6 times as long. A paid plan takes up to 30,000 characters in a render, enough for the whole text. See the plans.
Listening also shows you which sentences are too long for one breath. For a longer article, the text to speech reader is built for that job.
Making 1000 words fit a time slot
If you have 8 minutes, 1000 words at 130 words per minute takes 7:42 with no pauses, so it fits with about 18 seconds to spare. Add a 10 percent pause allowance and it becomes 8:28, which no longer fits. Cut about 50 to 100 words, or speed up slightly.
Work backwards with the reverse box in the calculator: type the minutes you have and read off the words that fit. Five minutes at 130 words per minute is 650 words, and ten minutes is 1,300.
Where 1000 words comes up
- Blog posts and articles: a 1000 word post takes 4 minutes to skim silently and about 8 minutes to read to someone.
- Video scripts: a script of 1000 words gives a video of about 6 to 8 minutes.
- School readings and speeches: assignments often set a word count rather than a time.
- Short stories read aloud: at bedtime, 1000 words is a common length.
How long to read 1000 words aloud: questions
How long does it take to read 1000 words aloud?
About 7:42 at 130 words per minute, a steady reading pace. A slow 100 words per minute gives 10:00, 150 gives 6:40, and a fast 170 gives 5:53.
How long does it take to read 1000 words silently?
About 4:10 at 240 words per minute, a figure often quoted for adult non-fiction. Reading aloud is slower because you say every word.
How long is 1000 words as a speech?
A speech of 1000 words runs about 7 to 9 minutes at 110 to 150 words per minute, plus any pauses for slides or applause. At 130 words per minute with 10 percent for pauses it is 8:28.
How long does it take to read 1000 words to a child?
Reading to children is usually slower, with voices and pauses for pictures. At 100 to 120 words per minute, 1000 words take 8:20 to 10:00.
Why does my reading time differ from the estimate?
The estimate uses a fixed pace. Your real pace changes with the text: names, numbers, dialogue and unfamiliar words slow most readers down. Read one paragraph aloud with a timer and enter that number in the calculator for a better estimate.
Can I hear 1000 words read aloud by the site?
Yes, with a paid plan. 1000 words are about 6,000 characters, and a render on a paid plan takes up to 30,000 characters. The free plan reads 1,000 characters a day, about 170 words, so on the free plan you can listen to a section and scale the length up.