Time Is Trust: Reading Time Calculators

Every article you publish should include an estimated Reading Time — which tools to use and how to do it right

One of the simplest but most overlooked ways to build trust and show respect for your readers’ time is to include an estimated reading time at the top of every article you publish.

It sounds minor. But in a world drowning in unread tabs and AI-written noise, small signals of intentionality matter more than ever.

Reading time is not just about UX.

It’s a micro-trust signal.

It tells your audience: “This was written by a human who knows your time is precious.”

Why It Works

• It sets expectations.
  Just like a video or podcast includes its duration, knowing a piece will take 4 or 7 minutes to read gives your audience control.

• It boosts engagement.
  Studies from the Nielsen Norman Group and Medium show that readers are more likely to commit to reading when they know the time investment upfront.

• It increases perceived professionalism.
  It’s a small UX detail that separates high-value curated content from careless or mass-produced material.

How to Do It

You can calculate reading time manually or automatically.

Most professionals estimate based on an average adult reading speed of 200–250 words per minute.

But here’s the real deal:

• College-level or high-focus content?
  Aim for 300–450 wpm if your audience includes fast readers or academics.

• Casual audiences or mobile readers?
  Stick with 200–225 wpm to be more realistic.

Four Recommended Tools

• Reading Time
  (WordPress plugin) (100% free)

• Read Meter
  (WordPress plugin) displays estimated reading time along with a progress bar on published WP articles (100% free)

• Read-o-Meter
  (web app) calculates reading time for any text (100% free)

• Convert Words to Time
  (web app) converts number of words into reading minutes (100% free)

👉 Want precision?

The Flesch–Kincaid readability test can tell you what grade level your article is written for — useful if you want to adapt your reading time estimates accordingly.

Where to Put Reading Time Info in an Article

Place the reading time:

• Right under the headline (best for clarity)

• In the byline area (if you include author and date)

• At the top of email newsletters (adds perceived value immediately)

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Reading time might seem like a detail. But to a busy reader, it’s a promise.
And in a trust economy, every fulfilled promise compounds your credibility.

from sunny Koh Samui (Thailand)

Robin Good