Reading Time Calculator

Average reading speeds

• Slow (under 200 wpm): Children's books pacing, complex academic text, or learning a new language. Most people fall here for unfamiliar non-fiction.
• Average (200-300 wpm): Where most adults are for fiction and casual non-fiction. ~265 wpm is the population average per multiple studies.
• Fast (300-450 wpm): Heavy readers, journalists, students who read for a living. Comprehension is still good at this speed.
• Speed reading (500+ wpm): Achievable for some readers with training, but comprehension drops above 600-700 wpm. The "1000+ wpm" claims from speed-reading courses don't survive comprehension tests.

Word counts by format

• Average page (paperback novel): ~250 words.
• Hardcover novel: ~300 words/page.
• Textbook: ~400-450 words/page.
• Children's chapter book: ~150 words/page.
• Magazine article: 800-2,500 words total.
• Average novel: 60,000-100,000 words. Average non-fiction book: 50,000-80,000 words.

Daily reading habit math

Reading 30 minutes per day at average speed = ~150,000 words per month = ~2 full novels per month. Reading just 15 min/day adds up to ~1 book per month. The "100 books a year" goal requires ~25 minutes per day.

Format affects speed

• Print: Highest comprehension, slowest speed.
• E-readers (Kindle, Kobo): Identical speed to print, slightly lower retention for fiction details.
• Audiobooks: Average listening speed 150-160 wpm at 1x. Most listeners use 1.25-1.75x = 200-280 wpm. Comprehension drops past 2x for most listeners.
• Phone reading: ~15-20% slower than print, with more re-reading of the same passages.

For tested e-readers and book accessories, see our books reviews.