A reading time calculator for every paper you open
See the reading time for any document before you open it, so you can plan your study sessions around real time to read.
Why Estimated Reading Times change the way students study
Knowing how long to read a paper before you start changes how you plan your day. Tailo’s reading time estimator gives you that certainty upfront, for every document in your library.
Anticipate your workload before you start
Tailo shows you the estimated reading time for every document upfront, so you can make informed decisions about what to tackle and when. No workload surprises.
Designed for students managing ADHD and executive function challenges
For students with ADHD or executive function challenges, not knowing how long something will take is a big barriers to starting. A clear reading time estimate makes it easier to commit and complete a task.
Supports students with fatigue and anxiety
Knowing the time to read each paper before you begin lets you plan around your capacity rather than pushing through and running out of steam mid-session.
Plan realistic study sessions around your reading list
Use reading time estimates to build a study session that actually fits your available time. Stack shorter papers when time is limited; tackle longer ones when you have capacity.
The uncertainty before you start is often the hardest part
Sitting down to study is hard enough without opening a document and having no idea how long it will take to get through. That uncertainty makes it harder to start, harder to pace yourself, and harder to stop when you said you would. Tailo’s reading time estimator removes it. Every document shows a clear estimated reading time before you open it, so you know how long to read, can plan realistically, and can structure your sessions around your actual capacity rather than guessing.
See how estimated reading times help you plan your study day
Watch how Tailo’s reading time estimator gives you a clear time to read before you open any document.
FAQs
Everything students ask about Estimated Reading Times and how it helps them plan their studying.
What is Tailo's Estimated Reading Times feature?
Estimated Reading Times is a feature that shows you how long to read any document in your Tailo library before you open it. Think of it as a reading time estimator built into your reading workflow. It gives you a clear time to read upfront, helping you plan study sessions realistically and reducing the anxiety of not knowing how much time a piece of reading will actually take.
Who is this feature designed for?
Estimated Reading Times is particularly useful for students with ADHD, executive function challenges, chronic fatigue, or anxiety, where knowing how long something will take before starting is a significant factor in being able to begin and sustain a task. It is also practical for any student trying to plan a study session around limited available time, using reading time estimates to decide which papers to tackle and in what order.
How does Tailo calculate the reading time estimate?
Tailo calculates the estimated reading time based on the length of the document and a standard average reading speed. The estimate reflects how long to read the full text at a comfortable pace, similar to how a words-per-minute calculator works but applied automatically to your documents. It is designed to give a realistic figure rather than an optimistic one, so your study sessions do not overrun.
Does the estimate account for the complexity of academic text?
The estimated reading time is based on word count and average reading speed rather than text complexity. Academic writing is typically denser than general text, which means the actual time to read may be longer than the estimate suggests, particularly for highly technical material. We recommend using the estimate as a minimum planning figure and allowing extra time for papers you know will require more careful reading.
How does Tailo's estimated reading time feature help with disability-specific barriers?
Knowing how long a reading will take helps with a wide range of barriers – whether that’s struggling to plan around fatigue or limited energy, needing to pace yourself across a task rather than starting something open-ended, or finding it hard to judge how much time to set aside when concentration is unpredictable. Seeing the estimate upfront means you can plan your reading around what actually works for you, instead of committing to something without knowing what it demands.
For more on the specific barriers Tailo supports, see our Who We Help page.
Trusted by students at universities across the UK
Thousands of students are already using Tailo’s estimated reading time feature to plan their reading around what works for them, from first-year undergraduates to postgraduates managing heavy research loads. Tailo is used across UK universities and is available to all students, including those accessing support through the Disabled Students’ Allowance.
Francesca
I’ve been doing really well at uni – Tailo helps me focus on what matters.
Chase
I use Talio all the time now for all of my reading, I'm no longer skimming the reading lists in a panic before classes to get a vague idea of what's going on.
Jesse
I was sceptical because I didn’t think that Tailo would change the way that I engaged with information as much as it did. Just try it and you won’t uninstall it.
Megan
I have used ChatGPT to summarise a piece of text before, however Tailo is much better. I prefer how Tailo works and I feel it is more reliable.
