How Long to Read the Bible? Complete Time Breakdown
"How long does it take to read the Bible?" It's one of the most common questions from people considering reading Scripture cover to cover. The answer determines whether it's a weekend project or a year-long commitment.
Here's the short answer: about 70 hours total—equivalent to watching a long TV series or taking a cross-country road trip.
But that number doesn't tell the whole story. Let's break it down properly.
Total Bible Reading Time
The Bible contains approximately 783,137 words (varies slightly by translation). At average reading speeds:
| Reading Speed | Total Time | Daily Time (1 Year) |
|---|---|---|
| Slow (100 wpm) | 130 hours | 21 minutes |
| Average (150 wpm) | 87 hours | 14 minutes |
| Moderate (200 wpm) | 65 hours | 11 minutes |
| Fast (250 wpm) | 52 hours | 9 minutes |
Most people read around 150-200 words per minute when reading carefully for comprehension (not skimming).
This means reading the entire Bible takes 65-87 hours of actual reading time.
Reading Time by Section
The Bible isn't evenly distributed. Some sections take significantly longer than others.
Old Testament vs. New Testament
| Section | Word Count | Reading Time (150 wpm) |
|---|---|---|
| Old Testament | ~592,000 words | 66 hours |
| New Testament | ~181,000 words | 20 hours |
| Total | ~773,000 words | 86 hours |
The Old Testament is roughly three times longer than the New Testament.
By Testament Section
Old Testament Breakdown:
| Section | Books | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Pentateuch | Genesis-Deuteronomy | 12 hours |
| Historical | Joshua-Esther | 16 hours |
| Poetic | Job-Song of Solomon | 8 hours |
| Major Prophets | Isaiah-Daniel | 14 hours |
| Minor Prophets | Hosea-Malachi | 4 hours |
New Testament Breakdown:
| Section | Books | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Gospels | Matthew-John | 8 hours |
| History | Acts | 2 hours |
| Paul's Letters | Romans-Philemon | 5 hours |
| General Letters | Hebrews-Jude | 2.5 hours |
| Prophecy | Revelation | 1.5 hours |
Reading Time by Book
Here's how long each book takes at 150 words per minute:
Longest Books (Over 2 Hours)
| Book | Chapters | Reading Time |
|---|---|---|
| Psalms | 150 | 4.5 hours |
| Jeremiah | 52 | 3.5 hours |
| Genesis | 50 | 3 hours |
| Ezekiel | 48 | 3 hours |
| Isaiah | 66 | 3 hours |
| Exodus | 40 | 2.5 hours |
| Numbers | 36 | 2.5 hours |
| Deuteronomy | 34 | 2 hours |
| 1 Samuel | 31 | 2 hours |
| 2 Chronicles | 36 | 2 hours |
Shortest Books (Under 15 Minutes)
| Book | Chapters | Reading Time |
|---|---|---|
| 3 John | 1 | 2 minutes |
| 2 John | 1 | 2 minutes |
| Philemon | 1 | 3 minutes |
| Jude | 1 | 4 minutes |
| Obadiah | 1 | 4 minutes |
| Haggai | 2 | 6 minutes |
| Nahum | 3 | 7 minutes |
| 2 Thessalonians | 3 | 7 minutes |
| Titus | 3 | 8 minutes |
| Ruth | 4 | 10 minutes |
How Long to Read the Bible: By Schedule
Now for the practical question—how long until you've finished?
90-Day Plan (Bible in 3 Months)
- Daily reading: 45-60 minutes
- Pace: ~8-10 chapters daily
- Best for: Motivated readers with significant daily time
- Challenge level: Intense
6-Month Plan
- Daily reading: 25-30 minutes
- Pace: ~5-6 chapters daily
- Best for: Dedicated readers wanting faster completion
- Challenge level: Moderate-high
1-Year Plan (Most Popular)
- Daily reading: 15-20 minutes
- Pace: ~3-4 chapters daily
- Best for: Most people
- Challenge level: Sustainable
This is the most popular approach for good reason. See our complete one year Bible reading plan guide for detailed strategies on choosing between chronological, canonical, and thematic approaches.
2-Year Plan
- Daily reading: 8-10 minutes
- Pace: ~2 chapters daily
- Best for: Busy schedules, deeper study
- Challenge level: Easy to maintain
Weekend Warrior (Weekends Only)
- Weekend reading: 1.5-2 hours (Saturday and Sunday)
- Time to complete: ~10 months
- Best for: Those with packed weekdays
- Challenge level: Requires dedicated weekend time
Real-World Reading Scenarios
"I have 10 minutes during lunch"
At 10 minutes daily, you'll finish in about 520 days (roughly 18 months). That's approximately 1.5 chapters per day.
"I can do 20 minutes before work"
At 20 minutes daily, you'll finish in 260 days (under 9 months). This is a comfortable pace of 3 chapters daily.
"I want to read during my commute" (Audio)
Most audio Bibles run 70-90 hours. At a 30-minute commute each way:
- 1-hour daily: 70-90 days (2.5-3 months)
- 30-minute daily: 140-180 days (5-6 months)
"I'll read on weekends only"
At 2 hours every Saturday and Sunday:
- 4 hours weekly: About 20 weeks (5 months)
- 2 hours weekly: About 40 weeks (10 months)
The 15-Minutes-a-Day Reality
Here's what our 365-day reading plan looks like in practice:
Daily commitment: 15-20 minutes
What you read each day:
- 2-3 Old Testament chapters
- 1 New Testament chapter
- 1 Psalm
- 1 Proverbs chapter
Why this works:
- Short enough to fit any schedule
- Varied content keeps it interesting
- Never stuck in difficult sections for long
- Achievable even on busy days
By the end of the year: You've read the entire Bible—every book, every chapter, every verse.
Factors That Affect Reading Time
Translation Choice
Some translations use more words than others:
| Translation | Word Count | Relative Length |
|---|---|---|
| NIV | ~727,000 | Baseline |
| ESV | ~757,000 | +4% |
| KJV | ~783,000 | +8% |
| NLT | ~747,000 | +3% |
| Message | ~819,000 | +13% |
The difference is minimal—maybe 5-10 hours over the entire Bible.
Reading vs. Studying
Pure reading (comprehension without deep study): 70-90 hours
Reading with note-taking: 100-120 hours
Deep study with cross-references and commentary: 200+ hours
Decide your goal. Reading and studying are different activities.
Familiarity
Your first read-through will be slower. Unfamiliar names, places, and concepts require more processing. Subsequent readings go faster as context becomes familiar.
Making Time Visible
Sometimes seeing the math helps motivation:
One year of 15-minute devotionals:
- 15 minutes × 365 days = 91 hours
- That's 91 hours with God
- More than most people invest in a decade
What 15 minutes could replace:
- One Instagram scroll session
- Half a TV episode
- Two YouTube videos
- One snooze button press
The time exists. It's a matter of allocation.
FAQ: Bible Reading Time
How long to read the New Testament only?
About 18-20 hours at average reading speed. At 15 minutes daily, you'd finish in roughly 2.5 months.
How long to read just the Gospels?
Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John together take about 8 hours. At 15 minutes daily, that's about 5 weeks.
What's the fastest someone has read the Bible?
Speed readers have completed it in under 24 hours. But reading that fast misses the point—comprehension and transformation require slower engagement.
Is listening faster than reading?
Audio Bibles are typically narrated at 150-175 words per minute. If you read faster than that, reading is quicker. If you read slower, listening saves time. Most people find listening slightly faster.
How do I know my reading speed?
Time yourself reading one chapter of average length (like John 3). Divide the word count (~670 words) by your time in minutes. That's your words-per-minute.
Can I really read the whole Bible in a year?
Yes. Millions of people do it annually. At just 15-20 minutes daily, it's completely achievable. The challenge isn't time—it's consistency.
Start With Day 1
You now know exactly how long it takes. The question is whether you'll begin.
Our 365-day plan breaks the entire Bible into manageable daily portions. Fifteen minutes each morning, and by this time next year, you'll have read every word.
Day 1 includes:
- Genesis 1-3 (creation and the fall)
- Matthew 1 (genealogy of Jesus)
- Psalm 1 (the blessed life)
- Proverbs 1 (the beginning of wisdom)
Total reading time: ~18 minutes.
Track Every Minute
BibleMate helps you stay consistent with your reading plan:
- Visual progress tracking
- Daily reminders
- Offline reading
- Never lose your place
Ready to start your Bible reading journey?
Read the entire Bible in one year with daily guidance.
