Reading timer
A free reading timer set to 20 minutes, the length of a solid reading sprint and of most school reading logs. Open it on a laptop, press Start, and put the phone in a drawer. The alarm ends the sprint so you never have to check the time. Also searched as reading sprint timer, book timer, 20 minute reading timer.
How a reading sprint works
- Note the page you are on.
- Set 20 minutes and press Space. Choose Chime for a soft ending.
- Read without stopping. No phone, no looking things up, no rereading the same line.
- When it rings, write down the pages read. Over a week you will know your real pace.
Pages per 20-minute sprint
Based on about 275 words per page in a typical paperback. Your number depends on the book and on how tired you are.
| Reading speed | Words in 20 minutes | Pages |
|---|---|---|
| 200 words per minute | 4,000 | About 15 |
| 250 words per minute | 5,000 | About 18 |
| 300 words per minute | 6,000 | About 22 |
A 300-page novel at 18 pages a sprint is about 17 sprints. One sprint a day finishes it in under three weeks.
Building the habit
- Same time, same place. After breakfast or before bed works for most people.
- Start small. Ten minutes on a bad day still counts. The 20 minute timer and the 10 minute timer are one click away.
- Kids' reading logs. Set the timer together so the child owns the sprint. Combine it with the homework timer for the rest of the evening routine.
- Studying a textbook. Use the study timer approach instead: shorter blocks with notes between them.
- Want to measure instead? Open the stopwatch, read a chapter, and divide the pages by the minutes.
Frequently asked questions
How many pages can I read in 20 minutes?
At an average 250 words per minute and about 275 words per page, roughly 18 pages. Dense nonfiction will be slower and light fiction faster.
Why time my reading at all?
A fixed sprint makes starting easy and keeps the phone away. Noting pages per sprint also shows your real reading speed, which helps with planning.
What length is good for a child's reading log?
Most schools ask for about 20 minutes a night. Set this timer, start together, and let the child stop when it rings.
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