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How long does it take to read The Hobbit?

J. R. R. Tolkien

The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien takes about 5 hours 41 minutes to read at 250 words a minute.

About 5 hours 41 minutes

A weekend read

First published 1937. 310 pages, about 85,250 words.

12 days at 30 minutes a day

Estimate based on 275 words per page.

At other speeds

Slow, 150 words a minute 9 hours 28 minutes
Average, 250 words a minute 5 hours 41 minutes
Fast, 400 words a minute 3 hours 33 minutes

The page count is the median across 481 editions, so your copy may differ. How we calculate.

About the book

The Hobbit is a tale of high adventure, undertaken by a company of dwarves in search of dragon-guarded gold. A reluctant partner in this perilous quest is Bilbo Baggins, a comfort-loving unambitious hobbit, who surprises even himself by his resourcefulness and skill as a burglar. Encounters with trolls, goblins, dwarves, elves, and giant spiders, conversations with the dragon, Smaug, and a rather unwilling presence at the Battle of Five Armies are just some of the adventures that befall Bilbo. Bilbo Baggins has taken his place among the ranks of the immortals of children’s fiction. Written by Professor Tolkien for his children, The Hobbit met with instant critical acclaim when published.

Subjects: Fantasy, Arkenstone, Battle of Five Armies, invisibility, thrushes, eagles

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