Reading Time Block

The Reading Time Block plugin calculates and displays an estimated reading time based on the post content.

It uses a configurable reading speed (default: 200 words per minute) and outputs a clean, server-rendered block to the frontend.

This is ideal for blogs, documentation, or any content where you want to set expectations about how long it will take a visitor to read the page.

Features

• Adds a block to the Gutenberg editor for reading time.
• Automatically calculates based on post content.
• Supports customizable reading speed (WPM) via Settings → Reading.
• Lightweight and fast—no JS build step required.
• Fully translatable and namespace-isolated.

License

This plugin is licensed under the GNU General Public License v2.0 or later.
See https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-2.0.html for full license text.

1. Upload the plugin files to the /wp-content/plugins/reading-time-block/ directory, or install the plugin through the WordPress plugin screen directly.
2. Activate the plugin through the “Plugins” screen in WordPress.
3. Open a post in the block editor and insert the Reading Time block from the Widgets category.
4. Adjust the reading speed (optional) by visiting Settings → Reading.

1. 

   The block as it appears in the editor.

2. 

   The estimated reading time on the frontend.

3. 

   The WPM setting in Settings → Reading.

1.2.2

• Moved javascript to separate file, enqueued file
• Removed load_plugin_textdomain function call

1.2.1

• Added shortcode [reading_time].

1.2.0

• Added language support.

1.1.0

• Added settings under Settings → Reading for customizing WPM.
• Refactored render logic into a dedicated class.
• Improved block code structure.

1.0

• Initial release.
• Added a Gutenberg block to display estimated reading time.