Reading Time Calculator
Find out how long it takes to read any book from its word or page count, and get a plan to finish it at your pace. Free, no signup.
A typical novel is ~90,000 words; non-fiction ~60,000.
Used for the finish plan below.
Read 20 min/day and you'll finish in 19 days (about 3 weeks).
Common books at 238 WPM
| Book | Length | Total time | At 20 min/day |
|---|---|---|---|
| Typical novel | ~90,000 words | 6 h 18 m | 19 days |
| Typical non-fiction book | ~60,000 words | 4 h 12 m | 13 days |
| Atomic Habits | ~80,000 words | 5 h 36 m | 17 days |
How this calculator works
Reading time is simply word count divided by reading speed. The default speed of 238 words per minute comes from Brysbaert (2019), a meta-analysis of 190 studies measuring how fast adults silently read non-fiction in English. Fiction reads a little faster (~260 WPM), slow or careful readers sit closer to 150, and confident readers around 300. If you know your own speed — measure it with our reading speed test — pick Custom and enter it for a more accurate estimate.
If you only know the page count, the words-per-page selector converts it for you: mass-market paperbacks average about 250 words per page, standard hardbacks about 300, and dense academic layouts 500 or more. That spread is why "a 300-page book" can mean anywhere from 5 to 10+ hours of reading.
The finish plan reframes the total into something actionable. Six hours of reading sounds like a lot; 19 days at 20 minutes a day does not. This is the core insight behind most reading habits — a small, fixed daily slot beats occasional marathon sessions, because it survives busy weeks.
Once you have your minutes-per-day target, the hard part is showing up for it. HabitBox — a free, on-device habit tracker for iOS and Android, no account needed — lets you set a daily "read 20 minutes" habit and log it in one tap, so the streak does the motivating for you.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to read 100 pages?+
At the average adult silent-reading speed of 238 words per minute (Brysbaert, 2019) and a typical paperback density of 250 words per page, 100 pages is about 25,000 words — roughly 1 hour 45 minutes of continuous reading. Denser academic pages at 500 words each would take about 3.5 hours.
What is the average reading speed?+
A 2019 meta-analysis by Marc Brysbaert covering 190 studies found adults silently read non-fiction English at about 238 words per minute on average, with fiction slightly faster at around 260 WPM. Most adults fall between 175 and 300 WPM; speeds above 500 WPM usually come at the cost of comprehension.
How many words are on a typical book page?+
A mass-market paperback usually holds around 250 words per page, a standard hardback around 300, and dense academic or technical layouts can reach 500 or more. That is why two 300-page books can differ by hours of reading time — use the words-per-page selector to match your book's format.
How long does it take to read a whole novel?+
A typical novel runs about 90,000 words. At the average speed of 238 WPM that is roughly 6 hours 18 minutes of total reading time — under 3 weeks at 20 minutes per day, or about a week at an hour a day.
Does reading faster reduce comprehension?+
Usually, yes. Research reviewed alongside Brysbaert's meta-analysis suggests comprehension starts to drop meaningfully once you push far past your natural pace, and most 'speed reading' claims above 500-600 WPM are really skimming. A more reliable way to finish more books is consistent daily reading time, not faster eyes.
Make daily reading automatic
A finish date only happens if you actually read every day. HabitBox is a free, ad-free habit tracker — set a 'read 20 minutes' habit, log it in one tap, and watch the streak carry you to the last page. On-device, no account, iOS and Android.
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