How long 300 pages takes at different speeds
| Reader | Speed | Total time | Days at 30 min a day |
|---|---|---|---|
| Slower reader | 175 wpm | 7 h 9 min | 15 |
| Average, non-fiction | 238 wpm | 5 h 15 min | 11 |
| Average, fiction | 260 wpm | 4 h 48 min | 10 |
| Faster reader | 300 wpm | 4 h 10 min | 9 |
Assumes 250 words a page. Speeds are the adult averages and the typical non-fiction range from Marc Brysbaert (2019).
Popular page counts
- How long does it take to read 100 pages?
- How long does it take to read 200 pages?
- How long does it take to read 300 pages?
- How long does it take to read 500 pages?
Why words per page changes everything
Two 300-page books can differ by tens of thousands of words. Font size, margins, page size and how much dialogue there is all move the count. The calculator starts at 250 words a page as an assumption, not a measurement. For a precise answer, count the words on one full page of your book and enter that.
Turn the number into a plan
A reading time is only useful if it fits a day. Set the minutes you can actually protect, read off the days, and put the finish date in your calendar. Then check how many books you have left and spend them on the ones worth applying.
These times use the average reading speed unless you enter your own. To keep track of the books you finish, print a free reading log template, and if you're estimating from a page count, check how many words per page your edition holds.
Frequently asked
How long does it take to read a book?
About 5 h 15 min for 300 pages at the average adult reading speed of 238 words per minute, assuming 250 words a page. A faster reader at 300 wpm needs about 4 h 10 min; a slower one at 175 wpm about 7 h 9 min.
How many days does it take to read 300 pages at 30 minutes a day?
About 11 days at 238 words per minute and 250 words a page. Raise the daily minutes and it drops in proportion.
How many words are on a page?
It varies a lot with font size, page size and layout, so there's no single right number. This calculator assumes 250 words a page. For a precise answer, count the words on one full page of your book and enter that instead.
What reading speed should I use?
238 words per minute is the adult average for non-fiction and 260 for fiction (Marc Brysbaert, 2019). Most adults read non-fiction at 175–300 wpm. Take the reading speed test to use your own number.
How long does it take to read a 300-page book?
About 5 h 15 min at 238 words per minute and 250 words a page, or 11 days at 30 minutes a day.