Read Time Plugin

Calculate and display reading time estimates

WordPress 5.0+ PHP 7.4+ Version 1.0.0 Popular

Quick Start (2 Minutes)

Get up and running fast

  1. Download the plugin ZIP from GitHub releases
  2. Upload to WordPress (Plugins → Add New → Upload)
  3. Activate plugin
  4. Configure settings (Settings → Read Time)
  5. View any blog post to see reading time badge!

Installation

Step 1

Download Plugin

  • Download the latest ZIP from GitHub releases
  • Do not extract the ZIP file - WordPress needs it in ZIP format
Step 2

Upload & Activate

  1. Go to Plugins → Add New
  2. Click Upload Plugin
  3. Choose the ZIP file and click Install Now
  4. Click Activate Plugin
Step 3

Configure Settings

Go to Settings → Read Time and configure:

  • Reading Speed:
    • Default: 200 words per minute (average reader)
    • Adjustable to match your audience
  • Badge Position: Before or after content
  • Display On: Posts, pages, archives, comments
  • Image Time Calculation: Read Meter algorithm for images
  • Badge Colors: Customize text and background colors

Features

Accurate Calculation

Uses Read Meter algorithm with configurable reading speed

Image Time Calculation

Adds estimated viewing time for images using Read Meter algorithm

Archive Support

Display reading time on archive pages and listings

Comment Time Calculation

Option to include comment reading time in total

Per-Post Disable

Meta box in post editor to disable on specific posts

Post Type Filtering

Enable on posts, pages, or custom post types

Theme Compatibility

Tested and verified to work with popular themes:

Twenty Twenty-Four
WordPress default theme
Astra
1.7M+ active installs
GeneratePress
Requires WordPress 6.5+
OceanWP
1M+ active installs

Troubleshooting

Badge Not Showing
  • Verify plugin is activated (Plugins page)
  • Check post type is enabled in Settings → Read Time
  • Clear site and browser cache
  • Check per-post disable meta box isn't checked
Reading Time Seems Incorrect

The calculation uses these factors:

  • Reading speed (default: 200 words/min)
  • Image viewing time (Read Meter algorithm)
  • Comment reading time (if enabled)

You can adjust reading speed in Settings → Read Time.

Frequently Asked Questions

How accurate is the reading time calculation?
Very accurate! Uses the Read Meter algorithm with 200 words per minute average. You can adjust the reading speed to match your audience. Image viewing time is calculated based on research-backed estimates.
Does it account for images?
Yes! The plugin uses the Read Meter algorithm to add estimated viewing time for images (first image: 12 seconds, subsequent images: 11 seconds, additional time decreases for more images).
Can it include comment reading time?
Yes! Enable "Include Comments" in Settings → Read Time to add comment reading time to the total.
Will it show on archive pages?
Yes! Enable "Show on Archives" in Settings → Read Time to display reading time on category, tag, and date archive pages.

Need Help?

These plugins are lightly maintained: I keep them current with new WordPress releases and popular themes, and revisit them a few times a year. There is no support inbox — the source is on GitHub if you want to dig in or fork them.

Links: