“7 min read” at the top of an article is a small touch that does real work: it sets expectations, and readers who know how long something takes are more likely to start it. Pair it with a progress bar and more people stay to the end. Here is how to add reading time to WordPress posts, with a progress bar, no coding.
Why show reading time?
Reading time lowers the friction of clicking in: a “4 min read” feels approachable in a way a wall of text does not. A reading progress bar then gives a sense of momentum as people scroll, which measurably improves how far down the page they get. Both are quiet UX wins that help engagement and dwell time.
Can WordPress do this by default?
No. There is no native reading-time or progress-bar feature, and hand-coding an accurate one is trickier than it looks: you have to count words reliably, keep it cache-safe, and make the bar smooth across themes. A plugin handles all of that.
How to add it
The free ReadyGo Reading Time plugin adds both:
- Install and activate it.
- Choose where the read-time label appears and pick a bar or a circular ring.
- Optionally enable the live “time left” counter that ticks down as readers scroll.
It is lightweight and cache-safe, so it stays accurate and fast on any theme.
Tips for using it well
- Put the read time near the title so it is seen before the reader commits.
- Use the progress bar on long posts, where momentum matters most.
- Keep the styling subtle, it should reassure, not distract.
A small feature readers appreciate
Reading time and a progress bar are tiny additions with an outsized effect on how people experience your posts. Add them once and every article gets a little more inviting, and a little more likely to be read to the end.