A 300-page novel takes the average adult about 8–9 hours to read. Knowing the total helps plan holiday reading, study for exams or set a pace for a book club.
How to use the Reading Time Calculator
- Measure the book in
- Book length (pages)
- Book length (words)
- Reader type
- Custom speed
- Words per page
- Reading per day
Results update as you type, and every field accepts the units shown in its menu.
How it works
Choose pages or words, enter the length and your speed, and how long you read each day.
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 |
|---|---|
| Measure the book in | Choose one: Pages, Words |
| Book length (pages) | A number |
| Book length (words) | A number |
| Reader type | Choose one: Slow (≈ 150 wpm), Average (≈ 238 wpm), Quick (≈ 350 wpm), Custom |
| Custom speed | In wpm |
| Words per page | A number |
| Reading per day | In min |
Formula
Reading time = pages ÷ pages per minute (or words ÷ words per minute)Days = reading time ÷ minutes per dayWorked example
Inputs — Measure the book in: Pages; Book length (pages): 300; Book length (words): 80,000; Reader type: Average (≈ 238 wpm); Custom speed: 300 wpm; Words per page: 275; Reading per day: 30 min.
Results — Total words = 82,500; Reading time = 5 h 47 min; Days to finish = 12; Pages per day = 26.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to read a 300-page book?
About 5–6 hours at 238 wpm with 275 words per page.
How many words are in a typical novel?
70,000–100,000; young-adult novels 50,000–80,000.
How long to read 100 pages?
Roughly 2 hours at an average pace.
What formula does the Reading Time Calculator use?
Reading time = pages ÷ pages per minute (or words ÷ words per minute).