How Long Does It Take to Read 5,000 Words? (21 Min)

5,000 words is about ten single-spaced pages or twenty double-spaced pages. It is the length of a short story, a detailed report, or a long magazine feature. The average adult reads English silently at about 238 words per minute for non-fiction, according to a 2019 review of 190 studies, so 5,000 words takes about 21 minutes. Your own time depends on your speed and on how difficult the text is.

Time to Read 5,000 Words by Speed

5,000 Words as a Short Story

Fiction readers tend to read a little faster than the non-fiction average, around 260 words per minute, so a 5,000-word story takes most readers about 19 to 21 minutes. The Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association counts anything under 7,500 words as a short story for its Nebula Awards, so 5,000 words sits comfortably in that category.

Listening Instead of Reading

• Read aloud: about 27 minutes at 183 words per minute, a common length for a bedtime story session or a podcast reading.
• As an audiobook: about 32 minutes. ACX, Audible's production marketplace, says most narrators average about 9,300 words per finished hour.

Listening takes longer than reading for most adults, but it frees your eyes, which is why many people save longer pieces for a commute.

Find Your Own Reading Time

Averages hide a wide range. Take the Reading Speed Test to measure your own words per minute with a comprehension check, then divide 5,000 by your result. To time a specific document, paste it into the Reading Time Calculator.