Giving your readers a clear time estimate before they start reading sets clear expectations for your articles. KO Estimated Reading Time lets you display an estimated reading time in WordPress automatically above your post content with zero setup hassle.
You can show a clean read time badge on your blog posts that calculates minutes dynamically based on your actual word count. This tool is part of my collection of free WordPress plugins built to add clean functionality without slowing down page load times.
- Version: 1.0.0
- Requires WP: 6.0+
- PHP: 7.4+
- Frontend Assets: 0 KB
- License: GPLv2
Why I Built KO Estimated Reading Time
Reading platforms like Medium made reading time badges popular because they let readers know exactly what kind of time commitment an article requires before they start reading.
Most reading time plugins on WordPress are weighed down with cluttered settings menus, unnecessary database options, and heavy external JavaScript files that slow down your site.
I built this micro-plugin to keep things simple. It counts your post words, calculates read time at the standard 250 words-per-minute pace, and outputs a clean badge with a small clock icon right above your text.
How to Display Clean Read Time Badges Automatically
Here is how this tool calculates and displays estimated reading time in WordPress posts:
- Automatic Post Badge: Prepends a clean read time badge above your blog post content automatically on single posts.
- Accurate Word Counting: Strips shortcodes and HTML tags before calculating minutes so your read times reflect real text.
- Shortcode Support: Use
[reading-time]anywhere in custom theme templates, text blocks, or widgets. - Zero External Scripts: Uses a tiny inline SVG clock icon with minimal inline CSS and 0 KB of external JavaScript files.
- 100% Free & Open Source: Released freely under the GPLv2 license with the full source code published on GitHub.
How to Install and Set Up KO Estimated Reading Time
Setting up read time badges takes less than two minutes:
- Download the ZIP: Grab the latest
ko-estimated-reading-time.zipfile using the download button above. - Upload & Activate: Head into Plugins -> Add New Plugin -> Upload Plugin in your dashboard, pick the zip file, and click Activate.
- Confirm the Toggle: Open up KO Plugins -> Dashboard from your admin menu to make sure the Active on Site switch is set to ON.
Once active, view any published blog post on your site. You’ll see a clean read time badge right above your opening paragraph.
Frequently Asked Questions About KO Estimated Reading Time
How does the plugin calculate the reading time?
It strips shortcodes and HTML tags to count your clean words, then divides by the standard reading speed of 250 words per minute, rounding up to the nearest minute.
Where does the read time badge appear on my site?
It automatically appears right above your blog post content before your first paragraph on standard single blog posts.
Can I place the reading time somewhere else using a shortcode?
Yes. You can drop [reading-time] or [reading_time] anywhere in your post content, theme templates, or sidebar widgets.
Does this work on static pages or only blog posts?
The automatic badge shows on blog posts. For static pages or custom post types, you can insert the shortcode manually wherever you want it to appear.
Does this plugin slow down page speed or load external scripts?
No. It uses a tiny inline SVG clock icon and minimal inline styling. It loads 0 KB of external JavaScript files on your public pages.
Can I use this plugin on client websites?
Yes. KO Estimated Reading Time is licensed under GPLv2, which means you can install and use it freely on unlimited personal, business, or client websites.