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
- Download the plugin ZIP from your dashboard
- Upload to WordPress (Plugins → Add New → Upload)
- Activate plugin
- Configure settings (Settings → Read Time)
- View any blog post to see reading time badge!
Installation
Step 1
Download Plugin
- Download from your dashboard
- Do not extract the ZIP file - WordPress needs it in ZIP format
Step 2
Upload & Activate
- Go to Plugins → Add New
- Click Upload Plugin
- Choose the ZIP file and click Install Now
- 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.
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