Reading Speed Test
Free reading speed test with a comprehension check. Read a short original passage, get your words per minute, and see how you compare with research averages.
Free reading tool
Reading Time Calculator
Enter a book's length and your reading habits to see total reading time, how many days it will take at your pace, and how many minutes a day you need to finish by a deadline.
Free tool · Reading time calculator
–Total reading time
–Days at your daily pace
–Needed per day for your deadline
Runs in your browser. Nothing you enter is stored or sent anywhere.
How the calculation works
The calculator estimates the number of words in the book, then divides by your reading speed:
Words = pages × words per page Reading time = words ÷ words per minute
Words per page depends on the format. A small mass-market paperback holds around 200 words per page, a standard trade paperback about 250, and textbooks or large-format books 300 or more. If you know the book’s word count, divide it by your pages to get a more precise figure.
What reading speed should I choose?
If you’re not sure, choose Average (250 wpm). That’s close to the 238 to 260 words per minute found in the largest review of adult reading rates. To find your personal number, take our two-minute reading speed test.
Examples
| Book length | At 200 wpm | At 250 wpm | At 300 wpm |
|---|---|---|---|
| 150 pages (novella) | 3 h 8 m | 2 h 30 m | 2 h 5 m |
| 300 pages (typical novel) | 6 h 15 m | 5 h 0 m | 4 h 10 m |
| 500 pages (long novel) | 10 h 25 m | 8 h 20 m | 6 h 57 m |
Figures assume 250 words per page.
For reading times of well-known books like The Great Gatsby and War and Peace, see how long it takes to read a book.
Frequently asked questions
How many words are on a page?
Typically 200 to 300 words for a novel. Mass-market paperbacks are at the lower end, trade paperbacks around 250, and textbooks or large-format books often 300 or more.
How long does it take to read 100 pages?
At 250 words per page and 250 words per minute, 100 pages take about 100 minutes, or one hour and forty minutes.
How can I finish a book faster?
Read a little every day rather than trying to read faster. Twenty minutes a day finishes a 300-page novel in about 15 days.
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