How long does it take to read…
Reading times at the average adult speeds, silently (238 words per minute) and aloud (183).
| Words | Silent reading | Reading aloud |
|---|---|---|
| 500 words | 2 min 6 sec | 2 min 44 sec |
| 1,000 words | 4 min 12 sec | 5 min 28 sec |
| 2,500 words | 11 min | 14 min |
| 5,000 words | 21 min | 27 min |
| 10,000 words | 42 min | 55 min |
| 50,000 words | 3 hr 30 min | 4 hr 33 min |
| 100,000 words | 7 hr | 9 hr 6 min |
How reading time is calculated
Reading time is the number of words divided by your reading speed in words per minute. The averages here come from a review of 190 studies: adults read English non-fiction silently at about 238 words per minute, fiction at about 260, and aloud at about 183 (Brysbaert, 2019). Most adults read non-fiction at 175 to 300 words per minute, so your own time may differ.
Words per page
Page counts vary with font, margins and spacing, so word count is the more reliable measure. As a rough guide, a single-spaced typed page holds about 500 words and a double-spaced page about 250. A printed book page is usually somewhere between the two.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to read 1,000 words?
About 4 min 12 sec silently at the average speed of 238 words per minute, or about 5 min 28 sec aloud.
How long does it take to read 5,000 words?
About 21 min at an average silent reading speed.
How long does it take to read a novel?
A novel of 80,000 words takes about 5 hr 8 min at the average fiction speed of 260 words per minute. A 100,000-word novel takes about 6 hr 25 min.
Can I read faster?
Usually a little, by cutting re-reading and distractions. Reading one word at a time (RSVP) helps some people keep a faster, steadier pace, though understanding can drop if you push the speed too high.