How long does it take to read The Metamorphosis?
The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka is 22,008 words long. At an average reading speed of 250 words per minute, it takes about 1 hour 28 minutes to read — an evening or two.
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 | 2 hours 27 minutes |
| Below averageunhurried, easily distracted, or a dense text | 200 wpm | 1 hour 50 minutes |
| Averagewhat most adults read at | 250 wpm | 1 hour 28 minutes |
| Fasta confident, practised reader | 325 wpm | 1 hour 8 minutes |
| Very fastskimming, or very familiar material | 400 wpm | 55 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 Metamorphosis 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 | 9 days | about a week |
| 15 minutes | 6 days | 6 days |
| 30 minutes | 3 days | 3 days |
| 60 minutes | 2 days | 2 days |
How long is each chapter?
The Metamorphosis has 3 chapters, averaging 7,336 words — about 29m each. The longest is Chapter 2 at 30m; the shortest is Chapter 1 at 28m. Useful if you read a chapter a night.
Chapter times at 250 wpm.
You could start The Metamorphosis tonight
60 pages, level B1-B2. Free on the 12-month plan, with a reading tracker, tap-to-translate vocabulary and a short quiz.
Common questions
How long does it take to read The Metamorphosis?
The Metamorphosis is 22,008 words long. At an average adult reading speed of 250 words per minute that is about 1 hour 28 minutes. A slower reader at 150 wpm needs around 2 hours 27 minutes; a fast reader at 400 wpm finishes in roughly 55 minutes.
How many words is The Metamorphosis?
The Metamorphosis is 22,008 words across 3 chapters, which is an evening or two. Of the 26 classics on readClassicly, 24 are longer and 1 are shorter.
Can I read The Metamorphosis in a day?
Yes. At an average speed it takes about 1 hour 28 minutes, so The Metamorphosis is comfortably a one-day read — an afternoon, or an evening if you don't stop.
Is The Metamorphosis hard to read?
At CEFR level B1-B2, The Metamorphosis 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.