How to Show Estimated Reading Time in Blogger Posts (2025 Feature Guide)

How to Show Estimated Reading Time in Blogger Posts (2025 Feature Guide) 

Add estimated reading time to your Blogger posts to boost UX and engagement. This 2025 guide shows how to automatically display reading time using simple code — no plugin needed.

What Is Estimated Reading Time?

Estimated Reading Time tells your visitors how long it will take to read a blog post, like:

Reading Time: 3 mins

This small UX feature has big benefits:

Sets reader expectations
Increases content engagement
Reduces bounce rate
Makes your blog look more professional

How to Add Estimated Reading Time to Blogger (Automatic Method)

We'll use JavaScript to calculate the number of words in a post and display the time.

Step 1: Go to Blogger → Theme → Edit HTML

Step 2: Add This CSS Before </head>

Search for </head> and paste:

<style>
.read-time {
  font-size: 14px;
  color: #888;
  margin-bottom: 10px;
  display: block;
}
</style>

Step 3: Add the Reading Time Placeholder in Post Area

Search for this line inside your post loop or where you want the reading time to show (usually above the post body):

<data:post.body/>

Then, add this above it:

<span class="read-time"></span>

Step 4: Add JavaScript Before </body>

Search for </body> and paste this above it:

<script>
document.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded", function() {
  const posts = document.querySelectorAll(".post");
  posts.forEach(function(post) {
    const content = post.querySelector(".post-body");
    const readTimeSpan = post.querySelector(".read-time");
    if (content && readTimeSpan) {
      const words = content.innerText.trim().split(/\s+/).length;
      const time = Math.ceil(words / 200); // 200 words per minute average
      readTimeSpan.innerText = `🕒 Reading Time: ${time} min`;
    }
  });
});
</script>

Benefits of Showing Read Time

Feature	Why It Matters
Clear expectations	Readers know what to expect
UX boost	Makes long posts feel manageable
Professional feel	Adds a modern blog look
Lower bounce rate	Readers more likely to stay till the

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Pro Tips

Tip	Result
✅ Keep average at 200 WPM	Accurate read time
✅ Place above post title or meta	Users see it before reading
✅ Style with icons or color	Improves visual impact

---

Common Errors and Fixes

Issue	Fix
❌ “NaN” or broken value	✅ Ensure .post-body and .read-time exist
❌ Script not working	✅ Paste script before </body>
❌ Too small or dull text	✅ Edit .read-time CSS to customize style

---

Adding Estimated Reading Time to your Blogger blog helps:

• Improve readability
• Increase user trust
• Make your posts more inviting

It's a small touch with a big UX and SEO impact.

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Suleiman Inuwa

https://www.androidpols.com.ng/

I am a professional website developer and also an SEO expert.