Bible Reading Schedule: Daily, Weekly & Monthly Plans That Work

A Bible reading schedule transforms good intentions into actual progress. Whether you want to read the entire Bible in a year or simply develop a consistent habit, having a structured schedule makes all the difference.

This guide breaks down the most effective Bible reading schedules—daily, weekly, and monthly options—so you can find one that fits your life and actually stick with it.

Why You Need a Bible Reading Schedule

Without a schedule, Bible reading tends to be sporadic at best. You read when you remember, skip when life gets busy, and eventually abandon the effort altogether.

A Bible reading schedule solves this by providing:

• Structure — You know exactly what to read each day
• Accountability — A schedule keeps you honest about progress
• Completeness — You'll cover books you'd never read on your own
• Momentum — Daily consistency builds an unbreakable habit

The Bible contains 66 books and over 31,000 verses. Without a schedule, most people read the same familiar passages repeatedly while never experiencing large sections of Scripture.

Daily Bible Reading Schedule

A daily schedule is the most common and effective approach. By reading a small portion each day, you build a sustainable habit that compounds over time.

The 15-Minute Daily Schedule

This schedule works for most people and requires just 15-20 minutes per day:

Following this pattern, you'll complete the entire Bible in approximately one year.

Best Times for Daily Bible Reading

The best time is whenever you'll actually read. That said, research on habit formation suggests these windows work well:

Morning (before work/school)

• Mind is fresh and undistracted
• Sets spiritual tone for the day
• Fewer competing priorities

Lunch break

• Built-in pause in your day
• Provides midday reset
• Consistent daily window

Evening (before bed)

• Natural wind-down activity
• Quiet household atmosphere
• Time for reflection

Choose one time and protect it fiercely. Consistency matters more than the specific hour.

View our complete daily reading plan →

Weekly Bible Reading Schedule

If daily reading feels overwhelming, a weekly schedule offers more flexibility while still providing structure.

The 5-Day Weekly Schedule

Read Monday through Friday, using weekends to catch up or rest:

Monday: Old Testament narrative (3-4 chapters)

Tuesday: Old Testament continued (3-4 chapters)

Wednesday: New Testament (2-3 chapters)

Thursday: Psalms and Proverbs (4-5 chapters)

Friday: Prophets or Epistles (2-3 chapters)

This schedule completes the Bible in about 14-16 months.

The Weekend Intensive Schedule

For those with busy weekdays, concentrate reading on Saturday and Sunday:

Saturday: Old Testament (6-8 chapters, ~45 min)

Sunday: New Testament + Psalms (4-5 chapters, ~30 min)

This approach works well if you have more time on weekends but struggle to find daily reading windows.

Advantages of Weekly Schedules

• Built-in flexibility — Miss a day without guilt
• Longer reading sessions — Deeper immersion in narratives
• Natural rest days — Prevents burnout
• Easier to maintain — Lower daily pressure

Monthly Bible Reading Milestones

Tracking monthly milestones keeps you motivated during a year-long journey. Here's what your progress should look like month by month:

Month-by-Month Bible Reading Schedule

January: Genesis through Exodus 20, Matthew, Psalms 1-31

Milestone: Creation, patriarchs, Egyptian slavery, Sermon on the Mount

February: Exodus 21 through Deuteronomy 4, Mark, Psalms 32-59

Milestone: Law given at Sinai, wilderness wandering begins

March: Deuteronomy 5 through Judges, Luke 1-12, Psalms 60-90

Milestone: Conquest of Canaan, period of the judges

April: Ruth through 2 Samuel, Luke 13-24, Psalms 91-120

Milestone: King David's rise, parables of Jesus

May: 1 Kings through 2 Chronicles 9, John, Psalms 121-150

Milestone: Solomon's temple, Jesus's final teachings

June: 2 Chronicles 10 through Nehemiah, Acts 1-14, Psalms cycle restarts

Milestone: Divided kingdom, exile, early church begins

July: Esther through Psalm 50, Acts 15-28, Romans

Milestone: Wisdom literature begins, Paul's missionary journeys

August: Psalm 51 through Proverbs, 1-2 Corinthians, Galatians

Milestone: Deep into wisdom and worship

September: Ecclesiastes through Isaiah 35, Ephesians through 2 Thessalonians

Milestone: Prophetic warnings begin

October: Isaiah 36 through Ezekiel 24, 1-2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon

Milestone: Major prophets, pastoral letters

November: Ezekiel 25 through Hosea, Hebrews, James, 1-2 Peter

Milestone: Visions of restoration

December: Joel through Malachi, 1-3 John, Jude, Revelation

Milestone: Minor prophets, Bible complete!

Celebrating Monthly Milestones

Mark your calendar with these monthly achievements:

• Finishing a major book (Genesis, Exodus, Matthew)
• Completing a Gospel
• Reaching the halfway point (around mid-June)
• Starting the New Testament prophets
• Completing the final chapter

Track your progress on our calendar →

Tips for Maintaining Your Bible Reading Schedule

Starting is easy. Finishing requires strategy. Here's how to maintain your schedule all year:

1. The Two-Day Rule

Never miss two days in a row. One missed day is a blip. Two consecutive missed days is the start of a broken habit.

If you miss Monday, Tuesday is non-negotiable. This single rule has kept more reading schedules alive than any other strategy.

2. Anchor Your Reading to Existing Habits

Attach Bible reading to something you already do daily:

• After morning coffee — Read while the caffeine kicks in
• During lunch — Replace scrolling with Scripture
• After brushing teeth — Evening routine trigger

Habit stacking leverages existing routines to create new ones.

3. Prepare the Night Before

Set out your Bible, bookmark the next reading, and have your reading spot ready. Reducing friction in the morning dramatically increases follow-through.

4. Use Audio When Necessary

Busy days happen. When you can't sit and read, listen instead:

• During your commute
• While exercising
• While doing household chores

Listening counts. A heard chapter beats an unread one every time.

5. Build in Grace Days

The most sustainable schedules include buffer room. Consider:

• Reading 6 days per week (1 grace day)
• Having 2-3 "catch-up" days per month
• A lighter schedule during holidays or vacations

Perfectionism kills more reading plans than busyness does.

6. Find an Accountability Partner

Tell someone about your schedule. Better yet, read together. Options include:

• A spouse or family member
• A friend from church
• An online reading group
• The BibleMate community

Knowing someone will ask about your progress adds healthy pressure.

Choosing the Right Bible Reading Schedule

The best schedule is the one you'll actually follow. Consider these factors:

Your Available Time

Your Reading Style

Sequential readers prefer starting at Genesis and reading straight through.

Variety seekers do better with blended plans (OT + NT + Psalms daily).

Deep divers might read one book repeatedly before moving on.

Your Goals

First-time readers: Start with a Gospel (Mark is shortest), then Acts, then Genesis.

Annual readers: Use a structured 365-day plan for complete coverage.

Focused study: Pick one book and read it multiple times with commentary.

Common Bible Reading Schedule Questions

How long does it take to read the entire Bible?

At average reading speed (200-250 words per minute), the Bible takes approximately 70 hours to read completely. Spread across a year, that's about 12 minutes per day.

What if I fall behind schedule?

Don't try to catch up by reading triple portions—you'll burn out. Instead:

1. Accept the missed days
2. Continue from today's reading
3. Extend your completion date if needed

Should I skip difficult sections?

No. Some of the Bible's most meaningful content is in unexpected places. Leviticus contains profound theology. Numbers records God's faithfulness. Push through the challenging sections—they're worth it.

Can I start a Bible reading schedule mid-year?

Absolutely. The best time to start is today, regardless of the calendar date. You can:

• Begin at Day 1 and finish next year
• Start at your current calendar date
• Begin with the New Testament and add the Old later

What translation works best for scheduled reading?

Choose a translation you can read fluently. For daily schedules, readability matters more than word-for-word precision. Popular options:

• NIV — Balanced accuracy and readability
• NLT — Very accessible, great for first-time readers
• ESV — Slightly more formal, excellent for study

Start Your Bible Reading Schedule Today

You now have everything you need: daily options, weekly alternatives, monthly milestones, and proven strategies for consistency.

The only thing left is to begin.

Your next step: Open to Day 1 and read Genesis 1-3, Matthew 1, and Psalm 1. In less than 20 minutes, you'll have started a journey through the entire Bible.

A year from now, you'll either have read the whole Bible or you'll wish you had started today.

Start Day 1 of your Bible reading schedule →

Make Your Schedule Automatic with BibleMate

BibleMate helps you stick to your Bible reading schedule with:

• Daily reminders at your chosen time
• Progress tracking with visual milestones
• Offline reading for anywhere access
• Calendar view to see your journey ahead

No signup required. Start reading immediately.

View the full reading calendar →