How long does it take to read Ulysses?
James Joyce
At an average reading speed of 250 words a minute, Ulysses takes 17 hours 39 minutes to read. As an audiobook, expect about 28 hours at 1x.
The arithmetic says under 18 hours, but Ulysses is the book in our study where reading speed tells you least. Its 18 episodes follow one day in Dublin, 16 June 1904, and each is written in a different style. Most readers go far slower than their usual pace, and many read with a guide alongside.
Average is about 250 WPM. Measure yours in two minutes and every time on this page recalculates.
How much to read a day
At 250 words a minute, to finish the book:
Have a deadline in mind? The pages-per-day calculator works it out for any date.
How we measured it
Method: counted text. We used the Project Gutenberg text (#4300), which follows the 1922 first edition, from the first episode to the end.
Part of our study of the 100 most popular books, last checked November 2026. Reading times assume steady reading; editions, translations and your own pace all move them.
See how long it really takes you
Log it in Parch as you read. It tracks your pages, sessions and streak, so you'll know your real pace, and how long the next one will take.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to read Ulysses?
About 18 hours at an average reading speed of 250 words a minute: 22 hours at 200 and 15 hours at 300.
How many words are in Ulysses?
264,806 words.
How many pages a day to finish Ulysses in a month?
About 33 pages a day, or 36m of reading a day at an average pace. That assumes about 963 pages at 275 words a page; real page counts vary by edition.
How many chapters does Ulysses have?
18, usually called episodes. They average about 14,700 words, close to an hour of reading each at an average pace, though they vary a great deal in length.
Is Ulysses longer than Moby-Dick?
Yes, by about a quarter: 264,806 words against 208,427. On paper that's nearly four more hours; in practice Ulysses takes most readers a good deal longer than that.