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Speed Reading Calculator

How fast do you read? Time yourself reading a passage, enter the word count and time, and get your words-per-minute speed instantly. You can also enter a book's page count to see how long it will take you to finish it at your current pace.

How to measure your reading speed:

  1. Pick a passage you have not read before (at least 300 words)
  2. Set a timer and read at your normal, comfortable pace
  3. Stop the timer when you finish and enter the numbers above
  4. Read for comprehension, not just speed. Skimming inflates your WPM.

Average reading speeds by context:

  • Grade school children: 100-150 WPM
  • Average adult: 200-250 WPM
  • College students: 250-350 WPM
  • Speed readers: 400-700 WPM
  • World speed reading champions: 1,000+ WPM (but comprehension drops)

How long does a book take?

  • Short novel (200 pages, ~50,000 words): about 3.3 hours at 250 WPM
  • Average novel (300 pages, ~75,000 words): about 5 hours at 250 WPM
  • Long novel (500 pages, ~125,000 words): about 8.3 hours at 250 WPM
  • Textbook chapter (30 pages, ~7,500 words): about 30 minutes at 250 WPM

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