Reading Time Calculator
Find out how long it will take to finish your next book.
How long does it take to read a book? The honest answer is: it depends on two numbers — the book's length and your reading speed. This calculator multiplies pages by words per page to get the book's total word count, then divides by your words-per-minute speed to give a realistic estimate.
Most adults read between 200 and 250 words per minute; a typical paperback holds around 250–300 words per page. If you don't know your speed, take our two-minute reading speed test first — the estimate gets much more accurate with your real number.
How long does it take to read a book?
| Book length | Slow (200 WPM) | Average (250 WPM) | Fast (300 WPM) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 200 pages | 4 hr 35 min | 3 hr 40 min | 3 hr 3 min |
| 300 pages | 6 hr 53 min | 5 hr 30 min | 4 hr 35 min |
| 400 pages | 9 hr 10 min | 7 hr 20 min | 6 hr 7 min |
| 500 pages | 11 hr 28 min | 9 hr 10 min | 7 hr 38 min |
| 600 pages | 13 hr 45 min | 11 hr 0 min | 9 hr 10 min |
Assumes ~275 words per page, reading straight through. Split across days, a 300-page book is about 11 days at 30 minutes a day.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to read a 300-page book?
At an average reading speed of 250 words per minute, a 300-page book (~82,500 words) takes about 5.5 hours of total reading time — roughly 11 days at 30 minutes a day, or a weekend if you binge it.
What is the average reading speed?
Most adults read 200–250 words per minute for pleasure reading. You can measure yours in two minutes with our free reading speed test, then plug the real number into this calculator.
Why do my estimates differ from Kindle's or Audible's?
E-readers estimate from your actual observed pace in that specific book, which shifts with difficulty and attention. This calculator gives a planning estimate from averages — expect real books to vary by 10–20% either way.
More free reading tools
Stop calculating. Start tracking.
Parch calculates your reading pace from the sessions you log, builds your daily streak, and visualizes your reading habits in one beautiful app.
Read More in 7 Days
One short email a day, one small habit that makes reading easier to keep up. Plus a printable 30-day streak tracker with your daily target on it.
- Day 1Start smaller than you think
- Day 2Tie reading to something you already do
- Day 3Close the gap between books
- Day 4Yes, audiobooks count
- Day 5Quit the book that's stopping you
- Day 6Never miss twice
- Day 7Look back, then set next month's target
- By Dec 31
- about 5 more books
- Every year
- 24 books