Average reading speed
An adult reads about 238 words per minute when reading non-fiction silently, and about 260 wpm for fiction. Here is how that changes with age, text and purpose.
Where the 238 wpm figure comes from
For decades, articles quoted anything from 200 to 400 wpm as “average”. In 2019 Marc Brysbaert of Ghent University reviewed 190 studies with 18,573 participants and found that many older figures were inflated by short or easy test texts. His best estimates for adults reading English:
- Silent reading, non-fiction: 238 wpm (most people 175–300)
- Silent reading, fiction: 260 wpm (most people 200–320)
- Reading aloud: 183 wpm
Languages differ in how many words carry the same information, so the numbers are specific to English.
Average reading speed by age
| Age / grade | Silent wpm | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1st grade (age 6–7) | ~50–80 | Mostly reading aloud; silent reading is just starting. |
| 2nd grade (age 7–8) | ~80–100 | |
| 3rd grade (age 8–9) | ~100–120 | |
| 4th grade (age 9–10) | ~120–140 | |
| 5th–6th grade (age 10–12) | ~140–170 | |
| 7th–8th grade (age 12–14) | ~170–200 | |
| High school (age 14–18) | ~200–250 | |
| Adults (non-fiction) | 238 | Brysbaert 2019, range roughly 175–300. |
| Adults (fiction) | 260 | |
| Older adults (70+) | slightly lower | Longer fixations, more re-reading. |
School figures are approximate silent-reading ranges compiled from published fluency norms (e.g. Hasbrouck & Tindal’s oral reading fluency data, adjusted for silent reading) and vary a lot between children. They are a guide, not a diagnosis.
What sets your reading speed
Speed is decided by how fast your brain recognises words, not by how fast your eyes move. Eye-tracking research led by Keith Rayner shows skilled readers pause on a word for about 200–250 milliseconds, jump 7–9 letters forward, and go back to re-read about 10–15% of the time. Try it yourself:
235 stops a minute × 1.2 words each, minus 15% spent going back. This is close to what eye-tracking studies record for skilled adult readers.
Things that slow everyone down
- Hard words and long sentences. A text with a high Flesch-Kincaid grade means longer fixations and more re-reading.
- Unfamiliar topics. Background knowledge lets you predict what comes next.
- Reading on a small screen with frequent scrolling, or in a second language.
- Purpose. Studying for a test is meant to be slower than reading a novel on the bus.
Want your own number? The 60-second reading speed test gives it to you with a comprehension check, and the comprehension test measures speed across a whole passage.
Questions people ask
What is the average reading speed?
About 238 words per minute for adults reading non-fiction silently, and about 260 wpm for fiction, according to a 2019 meta-analysis of 190 studies by Marc Brysbaert. Reading aloud averages about 183 wpm.
What is a good reading speed?
Anything between 200 and 300 wpm with good understanding is normal for adults. Above 300 wpm with high comprehension is fast. Speed without understanding is not a good reading speed; it is skimming.
What is the average reading speed by age?
Silent reading rates rise quickly through primary school: roughly 80–100 wpm in 2nd grade, 140–170 wpm by 5th–6th grade, and 200–250 wpm by the end of secondary school. Adult speeds stay fairly stable until later life, when they slow slightly.
Is 400 words per minute good?
It is well above average. At 400 wpm most readers start to skim, so check your comprehension. If you still answer questions correctly, you are a genuinely fast reader.
Can I increase my reading speed?
Yes, mainly by reading more. Wider vocabulary and background knowledge shorten fixations and reduce re-reading. Courses that promise 1,000+ wpm usually teach skimming, and research finds comprehension drops as a result.