Average adults read English non-fiction at about 238 words per minute and fiction at about 260 (Brysbaert, 2019). Speeds above 400–500 wpm usually involve skimming with lower comprehension. A typical paperback page holds about 250–300 words.
How to use the Reading Speed Calculator
- Words read
- Reading time
- Words per page
- Reading per day
- Words per book
- Every result field is editable: type into Reading speed and Reading time plus every other field update to match.
Results update as you type, and every field accepts the units shown in its menu.
How it works
Read for a set time, count the words (lines × average words per line works well), and enter them with your daily reading time.
Tips
- Time yourself on a few pages of a typical book to find your real reading speed.
- Small daily habits add up: 20 minutes a day is about 120 hours a year.
- Audiobooks at 1.25–1.5× speed are easy to follow for most listeners.
- Set a target in pages per day rather than books per month – books vary in length.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Using speed-reading figures that sacrifice comprehension.
- Comparing books by page count when font and page size differ.
- Planning reading time you do not actually have every day.
Inputs explained
| Field | What to enter |
|---|---|
| Words read | A number |
| Reading time | Units: s, min |
| Words per page | A number |
| Reading per day | In min |
| Words per book | A number |
What each result means
- Reading speed = [Words read]÷([Reading time]÷60)
- Pages per hour = [Reading speed]×60÷[Words per page]
- Books per year at this pace = [Reading per day]×[Reading speed]×365.25÷[Words per book]
Example values
How the main result changes when Reading time changes and everything else stays at the example values above:
| Reading time (s) | Reading speed (wpm) |
|---|---|
| 150 | 480 |
| 225 | 320 |
| 300 | 240 |
| 375 | 192 |
| 450 | 160 |
| 600 | 120 |
Formula
Words per minute = words read ÷ minutesPages per hour = WPM × 60 ÷ words per pageBooks per year = daily minutes × WPM × 365.25 ÷ words per bookWorked example
Inputs — Words read: 1,200; Reading time: 300 s; Words per page: 275; Reading per day: 30 min; Words per book: 90,000.
Results — Reading speed = 240 wpm; Compared with average adults = Average; Pages per hour = 52; Books per year at this pace = 29.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average reading speed?
About 238 wpm for non-fiction and 260 wpm for fiction in silent reading.
How do I test my reading speed?
Read for exactly 1–5 minutes, count the words read and divide by the minutes.
Can I learn to read faster?
Practice and reducing re-reading help modestly; claims of 1,000+ wpm with full comprehension are not supported by research.
What formula does the Reading Speed Calculator use?
Words per minute = words read ÷ minutes.