Read Aloud Timer

Paste your text, set a target WPM, and hit Start. The timer highlights each line as you read and tracks your actual words-per-minute in real time.

Average conversational reading: 120–150 WPM. Audiobook narrators: 150–180 WPM. Auctioneer-fast: 250+ WPM.

0:00
elapsed
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remaining
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Reading Results

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Time taken
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Actual WPM
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Target WPM
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Total words
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WPM diff
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Target duration

How it works

The timer splits your text into lines and calculates how long each line should take at your target WPM. As the clock ticks, it advances the yellow highlight to the current line and auto-scrolls to keep it in view. When you stop, it computes your actual WPM from real elapsed time and total word count.

Actual WPM actualWPM = (totalWords ÷ elapsedSeconds) × 60
Expected duration seconds = (totalWords ÷ targetWPM) × 60
Line advance time lineSeconds = (wordsInLine ÷ targetWPM) × 60
WPM diff diff = actualWPM − targetWPM (+ = faster)

Example: 260-word passage at 130 WPM target → expected duration = (260 ÷ 130) × 60 = 120 seconds (2:00). If you finish in 90 s → actual WPM = (260 ÷ 90) × 60 ≈ 173 WPM, diff = +43 WPM (too fast).

Frequently asked questions

What is a good WPM for reading aloud?
Conversational speech typically falls between 120 and 150 WPM. Podcast hosts and audiobook narrators aim for 150–180 WPM — fast enough to feel natural but slow enough for listeners to absorb ideas. Presentations and speeches often target 120–140 WPM so the audience can follow comfortably. If you're practising for a timed speech, enter your word count and target duration to find the exact WPM you need, then work toward it with this timer.
How does the line highlighter decide when to advance?
Each line's display duration is proportional to its word count at your target WPM. A 10-word line at 120 WPM gets 5 seconds; a 20-word line gets 10 seconds. The timer uses requestAnimationFrame for smooth, sub-second updates, so the highlight advances precisely when the cumulative expected time for each line elapses. You can always stop early — your actual WPM is calculated from the real clock, not the estimate.
Can I use this for speech practice, podcast scripts, or presentations?
Yes — that's the primary use case. Paste your script, set the WPM you need to hit, and read along with the yellow highlight as your guide. If you're racing ahead (highlight always behind you) or falling behind (highlight always ahead), adjust your pace. The results screen tells you exactly how many WPM off you were, so you can iterate until your natural pace matches the target. Blank lines in your script are treated as natural pauses and are skipped in the word count.