How long does it take to read The Wonderful Wizard of Oz?
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum is 39,274 words long. At an average reading speed of 250 words per minute, it takes about 2 hours 37 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 | 4 hours 22 minutes |
| Below averageunhurried, easily distracted, or a dense text | 200 wpm | 3 hours 16 minutes |
| Averagewhat most adults read at | 250 wpm | 2 hours 37 minutes |
| Fasta confident, practised reader | 325 wpm | 2 hours 1 minute |
| Very fastskimming, or very familiar material | 400 wpm | 1 hour 38 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 The Wonderful Wizard of Oz 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 | 16 days | about 2 weeks |
| 15 minutes | 11 days | about a week |
| 30 minutes | 6 days | 6 days |
| 60 minutes | 3 days | 3 days |
How long is each chapter?
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz has 24 chapters, averaging 1,636 words — about 7m each. The longest is The Search for the Wicked Witch at 15m; the shortest is Home Again at 1m. Useful if you read a chapter a night.
Chapter times at 250 wpm.
You could start The Wonderful Wizard of Oz tonight
Read it free online — no account needed. 24 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 Wonderful Wizard of Oz?
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is 39,274 words long. At an average adult reading speed of 250 words per minute that is about 2 hours 37 minutes. A slower reader at 150 wpm needs around 4 hours 22 minutes; a fast reader at 400 wpm finishes in roughly 1 hour 38 minutes.
How many words is The Wonderful Wizard of Oz?
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is 39,274 words across 24 chapters, which is an evening or two. Of the 26 classics on readClassicly, 17 are longer and 8 are shorter.
Can I read The Wonderful Wizard of Oz in a day?
Yes. At an average speed it takes about 2 hours 37 minutes, so The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is comfortably a one-day read — an afternoon, or an evening if you don't stop.
Is The Wonderful Wizard of Oz hard to read?
At CEFR level A2-B1, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz 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.