Free Reading Speed Calculator

Reading Mode

Text Settings

0 words ≈ 0 min read

Flesch Reading Ease Score

0

What is Flesch Reading Ease Score?

The Flesch Reading Ease score indicates how easy a text is to read. The score ranges from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating easier reading:

  • 90-100: Very easy to read (5th grade)
  • 80-89: Easy to read (6th grade)
  • 70-79: Fairly easy to read (7th grade)
  • 60-69: Standard/Plain English (8th-9th grade)
  • 50-59: Fairly difficult (10th-12th grade)
  • 30-49: Difficult (College)
  • 0-29: Very difficult (College graduate)

Formula:

206.835 - (1.015 × ASL) - (84.6 × ASW)

Where:

  • ASL = Average Sentence Length (words per sentence)
  • ASW = Average Syllables per Word

Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level

0

What is Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level?

The Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level score indicates the U.S. school grade level required to understand the text:

  • 5-6: Elementary School
  • 7-8: Middle School
  • 9-10: High School
  • 11-12: High School Senior/College Prep
  • 13+: College Level

Formula:

(0.39 × ASL) + (11.8 × ASW) - 15.59

Where:

  • ASL = Average Sentence Length (words per sentence)
  • ASW = Average Syllables per Word

Reading Results

Reading Speed

0 WPM

Words Read

0 words

Time Spent

0:00

Reading History

This Reading Speed Calculator can help you measure and analyze reading speed across multiple languages. It allows you to use any text of your choice, just paste it into the text input area and click on the "Start Reading" button.

This tool provides detailed metrics through two distinct measurement modes: timed reading for fixed-duration assessment, and full text reading for complete passage analysis.

The calculator has comprehensive language support: specialized readability metrics for English, German, Spanish, and Italian, plus correct text length handling and reading speed calculation for dozens of other languages.

The built-in history system of this reading speed calculator enables progress tracking over time, while customizable display options ensure comfortable reading across different screen sizes and preferences.

How to Use this Reading Speed Calculator

Getting Started

  • Choose a Reading Mode:
    • Full Text Reading. Read the entire text and measure how long it takes.
    • Timed Reading. Read for a set duration and measure how many words you read. When using this mode, select a text that is deliberately longer than what anyone could complete in the allotted time. This prevents the text length from artificially capping measured reading speed.
  • Prepare Your Text:
    • Paste or type your text into the reading area.
    • Adjust text size for comfortable reading.
    • Select the appropriate language for proper metrics calculation.
    • Review word count and estimated reading time.
  • Start Reading:
    • Click "Start Reading" when ready.
    • For timed mode, click the last word you read when time expires.
    • For full text mode, click "Calculate Results" when you finish reading.

Understanding Results

  • Speed Metrics:
    • Words Per Minute (WPM): your reading speed.
    • Words Read: total words covered.
    • Time Spent: duration of reading.
  • Reading Level Analysis (by language):
    • English:
      • Flesch Reading Ease. Standard 0-100 scale (higher scores = easier reading).
      • Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level. U.S. grade level (1-16+).
    • German:
      • Amstad Reading Ease. Adapted 0-100 scale for German language characteristics.
      • Accounts for compound words and longer sentence structures.
    • Spanish:
      • Szigriszt-Pazos Reading Ease. Specially calibrated for Spanish texts.
    • Italian:
      • GulpEase Index. Special 0-100 scale designed for Italian texts.
      • Uses character count instead of syllables for better Italian language adaptation.
      • Accounts for Italian sentence structure and word length patterns.

Reading Speed Guidelines

Note: numbers below represent generic scales, in practice they can vary significantly depending on the reader's age, native language, complexity of the text, and other factors.

  • English:
    • <200 WPM: below average;
    • 200-300 WPM: average;
    • 300-450 WPM: above average;
    • 450+ WPM: speed reading.
  • German:
    • <180 WPM: below average;
    • 180-250 WPM: average;
    • 250-350 WPM: above average;
    • 350+ WPM: speed reading.
  • Spanish:
    • <200 WPM: below average;
    • 200-300 WPM: average;
    • 300-450 WPM: above average;
    • 450+ WPM: speed reading.
  • Italian:
    • <185 WPM: below average;
    • 185-260 WPM: average;
    • 260-370 WPM: above average;
    • 370+ WPM: speed reading.

Pro Tips

  • When reading aloud, you should expect lower numbers compared to reading silently.
  • For most accurate results, use texts in their original language (not translations).
  • Reading scores are most meaningful when compared within the same language.
  • Practice with different types of texts to improve speed.
  • Use the history feature to track progress over time.
  • Focus on comprehension alongside speed.
  • Consider that reading speeds typically vary between languages you know.