Audiobook Speed Calculator

Audiobook Speed Calculator

Ultimate Audiobook Speed Calculator

Adjusted Time: 0 hours 0 minutes

Time Saved: 0 minutes

Days to Finish: N/A

Suggested Speed: 1.0x

Listening Schedule

Audio Waveform Simulation

How to use Our Audiobook speed calculator

Hello! This audiobook speed calculator is very easy to use and it helps you find out how much time it will take to listen to your audiobook at different speeds.

You can also track your progress and get great suggestions. Here is the way to start:

Step-by-step guide

Enter the total duration

See the box with the “Total Duration” label. Write the length of your audiobook. Hours: minutes: Use a second format. For example, if it is 5 hours and 30 minutes, type 5:30:00. If you are not sure, check your audiobook app!

Add how much you have heard (optional)

In the “heard period” box, write how much you have already heard of the audiobook. Hours: minutes: Use the second format, such as 1 hour and 15 minutes 1:15:00. If you are starting now, you can leave it empty or type 0: 0: 0.

Choose your playback speed

In the “playback speed” box, type the speed on which you hear, such as 1.5 for 1.5x speed. You can use the number between 0.5 and 3. Most apps let you choose speeds like 1x, 1.25x, or 2x. Try different apps and see which speed works for you!

Choose the style of Audiobook

Use a dropdown menu to choose a style like fiction, non-fiction, or technology. This helps the calculator suggest the best hearing speed for that type of book.

Check the Results

  • As soon as you type in the details, the calculator shows:
    • Total Time: How long the whole audiobook will take at your chosen speed?
    • Remaining Time: How much time is left if you’ve already listened to part of it?
    • A table comparing times at speeds like 1.25x, 1.5x, and 2x.
    • A bar chart showing how speed changes the listening time.
    • A recommended speed based on the genre you picked.
  • Share Your Results
    • Click the “Share Results” button to copy a message with your listening time. You can paste it on social media or send it to a friend to show off your audiobook plans!

Tips for Using the Calculator

  • Double-Check Your Numbers: Make sure the duration and listening time are in the right format (hh:mm:ss) so the calculator works perfectly.
  • Try Different Speeds: The table and chart help you see how faster or slower speeds change the time. Pick one that feels comfy for listening.
  • Use the Genre Tip: The suggested speed for your genre can make the audiobook easier to follow, especially for tricky stuff like technical books.
  • Works on Any Device: You can use this on your phone, tablet, or computer—it’s made to look good everywhere.
Playback speed calculator

What Is an Audiobook Speed Calculator?

An audiobook speed calculator is a simple tool that helps you figure out how long your audiobook will take to finish at different playback speeds. For example, if a book is 10 hours long and you listen at 2x speed, it will only take 5 hours to finish.

  • Time planning: Students can map study blocks; busy parents can see if a book fits nap time.
  • Goal tracking: Marathon listeners chasing a “52‑books‑a‑year” goal can forecast completion dates.
  • Money saving: Audible and Scribd charge monthly—finishing more books per cycle squeezes extra value.

How Audiobook Speed Calculator works

Playback speed refers to how fast the narrator reads the audiobook. Most audiobook apps let you speed things up in small steps like 1.25x, 1.5x, 2x, or even 3x. Here’s a quick idea of what that means:

  • 1x speed = Normal speed
  • 1.5x speed = 1.5 times faster (33% less listening time)
  • 2x speed = Twice as fast (50% less time)
  • 3x speed = Triple speed (66% less time)

Some people worry that speeding things up might make the book harder to understand. That depends on the narrator, the writing style, and your listening comfort. But many regular audiobook users get used to 1.5x or 2x quickly.

How to Calculate Audiobook Time Using Playback Speed

You can calculate it manually using this simple formula:

New Time = Original Time ÷ Playback Speed

For example:

  • If your audiobook is 12 hours long, and you listen at 1.5x speed:
    12 ÷ 1.5 = 8 hours
  • At 2x speed:
    12 ÷ 2 = 6 hours

That’s it! Just divide the total audiobook time by the speed you plan to use.

What If You Don’t Know the Audiobook Length?

Sometimes, you may only know how many words are in the book, not the total hours. That’s where the Audiobook Length Calculator by Word Count comes in.

Here’s a good rule of thumb:

  • Most narrators read at about 150 to 160 words per minute (WPM).
  • One hour = about 9,000 to 9,600 words.

So if a book has 90,000 words, the audiobook will be roughly 10 hours at normal speed. Here’s how to estimate:

Estimated Time (in hours) = Word Count ÷ 9,300

Now, you can plug that into the speed formula:

90,000 ÷ 9,300 = ~9.7 hours at 1x speed
9.7 ÷ 1.5 = ~6.5 hours at 1.5x speed

Example: How Long Does a 300-Page Audiobook Take?

Let’s say a book has about 300 pages. A common estimate is 250–300 words per page. That’s around 75,000 to 90,000 words.

At 1x speed:
75,000 ÷ 9,300 = ~8 hours
90,000 ÷ 9,300 = ~9.7 hours

At 2x speed:
8 ÷ 2 = 4 hours
9.7 ÷ 2 = ~4.85 hours

So a 300-page book takes about 4 to 5 hours at double speed.

What Is 3x Speed in Audiobooks?

Listening at 3x speed is pretty fast. It cuts your time by two-thirds. That means:

  • A 9-hour audiobook becomes 3 hours
  • A 6-hour audiobook becomes 2 hours
  • A 15-hour audiobook becomes 5 hours

But not everyone can handle 3x speed easily. You’ll need practice and sharp focus. If the narrator talks clearly, and the topic isn’t too complex, it might work for you. Try increasing speed slowly—like going from 1.5x to 2x, then to 2.5x before trying 3x.

Expert Tips for Using Audiobook Speed Wisely

  1. Start slow: Begin at 1.25x or 1.5x and work your way up.
  2. Use bookmarks: If you miss something, tap to mark and replay later.
  3. Use headphones: Faster speech is easier to follow with clear audio.
  4. Adjust by genre: Fiction is easier to speed through than technical or emotional books.
  5. Don’t rush everything: Some books deserve to be savored at normal speed.

How to Use Audiobooks to Read More Books Each Year

Let’s say you listen to 30 minutes per day at 2x speed. That’s 1 hour of content per day.

In one week:
1 hour/day × 7 days = 7 hours/week

If the average audiobook is 10 hours, you could finish one every 10 days. That’s about 3 books per month or 36 books per year, just from listening on your commute or walk.

Multiply that by faster speeds, and you could easily hit 50+ books a year—without giving up other parts of your day.

Common Speed Options on Audiobook Platforms

Most of the major platforms, such as Audible, Google Play Books, Apple Books, and Scribed, offer adjustable speed settings. Take a quick look here at what you usually get:

Audible: 0.5x to 3.5x in 0.1 increments
Google Play Books: 0.5x to 3x
Apple Books: 0.5x to 2x
Scribd: 0.75x to 2x

These small increments allow you to control speed. You may find 1.4x perfect while 1.5x may be in a hurry. All this is about testing and error. Use the speed calculator with these settings and find out what works best for you.

Common Playback Speeds and Their Time Savings

Speed% Faster Than 1×8‑Hour Book Becomes
1.25×20 %6 hr 24 min
1.5×33 %5 hr 20 min
1.75×43 %4 hr 34 min
50 %4 hr 0 min

A one‑second mental calculation: Halve the length at 2×, shave one‑third at 1.5×, and you’ll never be late returning a library loan.

Save Time While Learning More

The sweetest victory? Time savings. You can listen to an audiobook read at 1.5x speed in 6.5 hours instead of 10 hours. One month this time is considered very high. With just a slight increase in speed, you can easily power through 3 – 4 books more

Audiobook Speed Calculator

Features of our Audiobook Speed Calculator

Before you pick your go-to tool, here’s a quick checklist of what to look for:

  • User-Friendly Interface: No one wants to struggle with lewd buttons or confused layouts. Simplicity is paramount.
  • Multi-Speed Options: A good calculator should show the time of several movements simultaneously, convenient to compare.
  • Support for Long Durations: It is particularly useful if you are interested in epic novels or educational courses.
  • Mobile Responsiveness: If it does not work properly on your phone, then there is no use in listening to it – most of us listen to it.

Some equipment progresses further with progress visualization or reading plan templates. Think of it as your audiobook productivity dashboard.

Mobile vs Desktop Experience

Let’s face it-mobile is the place where we live. While most calculators are web-based, how they perform on your phone can create or spoil the experience.

On Mobile:

  • Must load fast
  • Buttons and sliders should be thumb-friendly
  • Should remember your last input (great for recurring use)

On Desktop:

  • Great for bulk planning
  • Easier to use with spreadsheets and templates
  • Better for saving results or printing

Ideally, choose a tool that works well on both platforms or use one app on your desktop and another mobile-native version for quick adjustments on the fly.

Speed Recommendations Based on Content Type

Fiction vs Non-fiction

Your audiobook style will significantly determine the speed at which you can listen. Different hearing for Non-fiction and the point.

Fiction (Novels, Drama): These are all about EXPERIENCE. If so, no rush with the story/feelings/character development. Average fiction = Most people like to live in the 1x to 1.5x range. 0.75x speed for dramatic effect is also used by some people.

Fiction (help books, self-help, memoirs, business, etc) This information and straightforward stuff are in full everywhere. Here, increasing the speed to 1.5x or 2x is common. You are taking in data, ideas, or procedures not felt. And in fact, slow-moving forward can kill your interest completely.

Technical Content or Learning Material

Suppose you are listening to an audiobook on programming, neuroscience, or financial investment. This requires maximum attention. Listening to 2x speeds quickly? Perhaps not ideal.

Here’s a better strategy:

  • Start slow: 1x or 1.25x
  • Take notes: Pause and write key takeaways
  • Repeat chapters: Especially dense sections
  • Re-listen at higher speed: Once you’ve grasped the basics

Listening to technical things is like lifting weights for your brain. Slowly warm up, then listen loudly when your mental capacity develops.

Biographies and Podcasts

Biography often reads more like fiction than actual historical fact. They are deep, but they are not always needed. Most people like the gaps from 1.25x to 1.5x of the listeners. In saving time, you still hold on to the narrator’s cadence and tone.

Podcasting is very different on the other hand. Some hosts talk very slowly, 2x speed, hello. Some fly fast, and some very fast. You probably need to turn it down. Flexibility is key.

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Audiobook Speed and Time Management

This may seem strange, but the hearing schedule is a game-changer. Like a gym session or food plan, you remain constant by listening to structure.

Here’s a sample weekly plan:

DayTaskBook DurationSpeedListening Time
MondayCommute + Workout2 hrs1.5x1 hr 20 mins
TuesdayLaundry + Cooking1.5 hrs2x45 mins
WednesdayWalk + Office Setup1 hr1.75x34 mins
ThursdayRelax + Bedtime Listen1 hr1.25x48 mins
FridayCommute + Grocery Run2 hrs2x1 hr
WeekendBonus Time3 hrs1.5x2 hrs

This means that due to the smart speed adjustment, the actual audiobook material of more than 6 hours can be heard in only 5 hours of listening.

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Start Calculating Now

Ready to reclaim your hours?
→ Try the Audiobook Speed Calculator at the top of this page and see your listening time instantly.

About the Developer

I’m Alex Grant, an instructional audio producer who’s clocked more than 10,000 editing hours inside Pro Tools. My courses play in Fortune 500 training rooms, and my obsession with efficient learning drives everything I build—including this calculator. When I’m not tweaking decibels, you’ll find me racing through sci‑fi sagas at 2× on a mountain trail.

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Final Thoughts: Make Every Minute Count with Audiobook Speed Tools

Whether you’re a student, a professional, or just love stories, audiobook speed calculators are a simple way to take control of your time. You don’t have to guess how long a book will take. You can plan, listen faster, and enjoy more books without stress.

The key is finding the right speed for you. Try 1.25x or 1.5x first, then work your way up. Use the calculator to stay on track, set goals, or prep for travel.

Listening smarter means reading more—and with the right tools, it’s easy.

FAQs: Audiobook Speed Calculator

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