How long does it take to read The Adventures of Tom Sawyer?
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain is 70,663 words long. At an average reading speed of 250 words per minute, it takes about 4 hours 43 minutes to read — a normal-length 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 | 7 hours 51 minutes |
| Below averageunhurried, easily distracted, or a dense text | 200 wpm | 5 hours 53 minutes |
| Averagewhat most adults read at | 250 wpm | 4 hours 43 minutes |
| Fasta confident, practised reader | 325 wpm | 3 hours 37 minutes |
| Very fastskimming, or very familiar material | 400 wpm | 2 hours 57 minutes |
If English is your second language, expect to read a little below your usual speed on a classic like this one.
How long if you read a bit each day?
Almost nobody reads a novel in one sitting. Here is how The Adventures of Tom Sawyer 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 | 29 days | about 4 weeks |
| 15 minutes | 19 days | about 3 weeks |
| 30 minutes | 10 days | about a week |
| 60 minutes | 5 days | 5 days |
How long is each chapter?
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer has 35 chapters, averaging 2,019 words — about 8m each. The longest is Chapter 6 at 14m; the shortest is Chapter 24 at 2m. Useful if you read a chapter a night.
Chapter times at 250 wpm.
Start The Adventures of Tom Sawyer today
Read it free online — no account needed. 35 chapters, tap any word to look it up, and a short quiz at the end.
Common questions
How long does it take to read The Adventures of Tom Sawyer?
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer is 70,663 words long. At an average adult reading speed of 250 words per minute that is about 4 hours 43 minutes. A slower reader at 150 wpm needs around 7 hours 51 minutes; a fast reader at 400 wpm finishes in roughly 2 hours 57 minutes.
How many words is The Adventures of Tom Sawyer?
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer is 70,663 words across 35 chapters, which is a normal-length novel. Of the 26 classics on readClassicly, 7 are longer and 18 are shorter.
Can I read The Adventures of Tom Sawyer in a day?
It is possible, but it would take most of a day. At 250 wpm The Adventures of Tom Sawyer runs to about 4 hours 43 minutes of continuous reading. Spread over 5 days at an hour a day it is far more comfortable.
Is The Adventures of Tom Sawyer hard to read?
At CEFR level B1-B2, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer is approachable — a confident intermediate reader can handle it. 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.