How Long Does It Take to Read 400 Words?

1 min 41 sec
at average reading speed (238 wpm)

Average (238 wpm)

1 min 41 sec

Skimming (400 wpm)

1 min

Careful (150 wpm)

2 min 40 sec

Read Aloud (150 wpm)

2 min 40 sec

Reading 400 words at an average speed of 238 words per minute takes approximately 1 min 41 sec. If you are skimming for key information, it takes about 1 min. For careful study reading, allow 2 min 40 sec.

Reading Time by Speed

Reading Style	Speed	Time
Skimming / Scanning	400 wpm	1 min
Average reading	238 wpm	1 min 41 sec
Careful / Study reading	150 wpm	2 min 40 sec
Reading aloud	150 wpm	2 min 40 sec
Speed reading (trained)	600 wpm	40 sec

What Can You Read in This Time?

At 400 words, you are looking at the equivalent of:

A short news article or blog post
A single page of a textbook
Approximately 2 single-spaced pages

Tips for Faster Reading

Minimise subvocalisation (saying words in your head) to increase reading speed by 20 to 50 per cent.

Use a pointer (finger or pen) to guide your eyes across each line — this simple technique can boost speed by 25 per cent.

Preview the text first: read headings, first sentences, and bold text to build a mental framework before reading in detail.

External Resources

WikiHow — How-to guides for writing and content creation
Hemingway Editor — Free readability checker and writing clarity tool
ProWritingAid — Writing analysis and style improvement tool
Copyblogger — Content marketing and copywriting guides

Count Your Words Now

Paste your text and get an instant word count, character count, and reading time estimate.