Reading Speed Test
How fast do you really read?
Pick one of four texts, from an easy story to dense science and 1784 prose. Read at your normal pace, answer four questions, and see your words per minute, comprehension and how your speed changes with the kind of text.
Free, no sign-up. Runs in your browser; nothing you enter is saved or sent.
Pick a text
Each text is a different kind of reading, from an easy story to Benjamin Franklin's 1784 prose. Read at your normal pace, then answer four questions. Try more than one to see how much the kind of text changes your speed.
The timer starts when you pick a text and stops when you press done. Grade levels are a Flesch-Kincaid estimate.
What is a good reading speed?
The best estimate we have comes from a 2019 meta-analysis by Marc Brysbaert, which pooled 190 studies with 18,573 participants. Adults reading English silently averaged 238 words per minute for non-fiction and 260 for fiction. Reading aloud averaged 183 words per minute.
Most adults land between 175 and 300 words per minute for non-fiction. If you're in that range, you're a normal reader. Speeds far above it usually mean skimming, which is why this test checks comprehension too.
Your speed also depends on what you read. Long sentences, technical words and old spelling slow everyone down, so the test gives you four kinds of text and compares your results. Treat any single number as a baseline, not a score to beat.
Questions
What is the average reading speed for adults?
About 238 words per minute for silent reading of non-fiction and 260 for fiction, according to Brysbaert's 2019 meta-analysis of 190 studies. Most adults read non-fiction at 175 to 300 words per minute.
How is my reading speed calculated?
The test divides the words in the passage by the minutes you spent reading, from when you pick a text to when you press done. Effective speed multiplies that by the share of the four questions you got right, so skimming doesn't pay off.
Can I trust speed-reading apps that promise 1,000 words per minute?
Be skeptical. Research reviews of speed reading find that big jumps in speed usually come with a drop in comprehension. Practice, a bigger vocabulary and familiarity with the topic are what make reading faster without losing the meaning.
Why is my speed different on each text?
Text difficulty changes reading speed. Longer sentences, rarer words and unfamiliar spelling all take more time to process, so most people read the story fastest and the science or 18th-century text slowest. Compare yourself with the easier texts for a typical-day number.
Does reading on a phone slow me down?
It can, mostly because of distractions and small text. Take the test in the setting where you usually read to get a number that reflects real life.
Is my result saved?
Only in your own browser, so you can compare texts later. Nothing is sent anywhere. Clearing your browser data removes it.