Reading speed benchmarks

Average adult: 238 WPM (per Rayner et al., 2016 analysis)
Slow reader: ~150 WPM
Fast reader: 400+ WPM
Academic/technical reading: ~100 WPM (complex material)

Reading time for common texts

Average news article (~700 words): ~3 minutes
Short story (~7,500 words): ~30 minutes
Novel (~90,000 words): ~6 hours
Academic paper (~6,000 words): ~25 minutes (plus re-reading for comprehension)

How reading speed is measured

Words-per-minute (WPM) is typically measured using standardized passages read silently under timed conditions, followed by a comprehension test to confirm retention. Average adult silent reading speed is 200–300 WPM at 60–80% comprehension. Rates measured without comprehension checks are inflated and not meaningful.

Factors that affect reading speed

Text complexity: technical or academic text with dense vocabulary slows reading significantly below your baseline WPM for narrative prose.
Font size and line length: optimal line length is 45–75 characters per line; shorter or longer lines require more visual back-and-forth and reduce speed.
Screen vs. paper: multiple studies show screen reading is 20–30% slower than paper reading at equivalent font size, partly due to scrolling mechanics and screen glare.
Familiarity: readers process familiar vocabulary and domain knowledge significantly faster than novel concepts requiring working memory.

Speed reading claims

Programs claiming to raise reading speed above 1,000 WPM while maintaining comprehension are not supported by peer-reviewed evidence. A 2016 review by the National Academies of Sciences concluded that techniques such as Rapid Serial Visual Presentation (RSVP) and eye-movement training sacrifice comprehension for speed. The fundamentally limiting factor is linguistic processing time, not eye movement mechanics.