How long does it take to read Heidi?
Heidi by Johanna Spyri is 91,240 words long. At an average reading speed of 250 words per minute, it takes about 6 hours 5 minutes to read — a substantial novel.
Reading time at your speed
Reading speed varies more than most people expect — the gap between a slow and a fast reader is more than double. Find your row, or take the reading speed test to get your real number first.
| Reading speed | Words per minute | Time to finish |
|---|---|---|
| Slowcareful reading, or reading in a second language | 150 wpm | 10 hours 8 minutes |
| Below averageunhurried, easily distracted, or a dense text | 200 wpm | 7 hours 36 minutes |
| Averagewhat most adults read at | 250 wpm | 6 hours 5 minutes |
| Fasta confident, practised reader | 325 wpm | 4 hours 41 minutes |
| Very fastskimming, or very familiar material | 400 wpm | 3 hours 48 minutes |
The language here is simple enough that most readers hit their normal speed, so these times tend to hold up well.
How long if you read a bit each day?
Almost nobody reads a novel in one sitting. Here is how Heidi breaks down at an average 250 wpm, depending on how much time you give it each day.
| Reading a day | Days to finish | That is |
|---|---|---|
| 10 minutes | 37 days | about 1 months |
| 15 minutes | 25 days | about 4 weeks |
| 30 minutes | 13 days | about a week |
| 60 minutes | 7 days | about a week |
How long is each chapter?
Heidi has 23 chapters, averaging 3,967 words — about 16m each. The longest is "GOOD-BYE TILL WE MEET AGAIN" at 32m; the shortest is HEIDI GAINS IN ONE WAY AND LOSES IN ANOTHER at 7m. Useful if you read a chapter a night.
Chapter times at 250 wpm.
Start Heidi today
Read it free online — no account needed. 23 chapters, tap any word to look it up, and a short quiz at the end.
Common questions
How long does it take to read Heidi?
Heidi is 91,240 words long. At an average adult reading speed of 250 words per minute that is about 6 hours 5 minutes. A slower reader at 150 wpm needs around 10 hours 8 minutes; a fast reader at 400 wpm finishes in roughly 3 hours 48 minutes.
How many words is Heidi?
Heidi is 91,240 words across 23 chapters, which is a substantial novel. Of the 26 classics on readClassicly, 4 are longer and 21 are shorter.
Can I read Heidi in a day?
It is possible, but it would take most of a day. At 250 wpm Heidi runs to about 6 hours 5 minutes of continuous reading. Spread over about a week at an hour a day it is far more comfortable.
Is Heidi hard to read?
At CEFR level A2-B1, Heidi is one of the friendlier classics, readable with elementary to intermediate English. You can read it free at readClassicly and tap any word you don't know to look it up, which keeps a harder classic from stalling you.
Reading a classic to learn English?
readClassicly has a free plan for English reading for beginners: graded classic stories with tap-to-define words, audio, and a short quiz after each one. Start at your level and build up to full books like this one. If you are just starting, begin with the short English stories for beginners.