Free tool
Audiobook Length Calculator
Enter your book’s word count to estimate the finished audiobook length and what editing and mastering will cost.
Estimate only. Your fixed quote is based on the actual finished length. Minimum order $75.
How it works
How Audiobook Length Is Calculated
Audiobook length depends on two things: the word count of your book and the speed of the narration. Most professional narrators read at 150–160 words per minute, which works out to about 9,300 words per finished hour.
To estimate it yourself, divide your word count by 9,300. An 80,000-word novel is about 8.6 finished hours. Non-fiction with lists, data or technical terms is usually read more slowly; fast-paced thrillers and YA tend to run a little quicker.
Typical audiobook lengths by word count
| Word count | Typical book | Finished length (approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| 20,000 | Short non-fiction, novella | 2 h 10 m |
| 50,000 | Short novel, business book | 5 h 22 m |
| 80,000 | Average novel | 8 h 36 m |
| 100,000 | Long novel | 10 h 45 m |
| 150,000 | Epic fantasy, long biography | 16 h 8 m |
Average audiobook narration words per minute
Narration speed for audiobooks usually falls between 140 and 170 words per minute. ACX and most publishers estimate around 9,300 words per hour, which is 155 words per minute. Children’s books and dense non-fiction are often read closer to 140.
FAQ
Audiobook Length FAQs
How many words is a 1-hour audiobook?
About 9,300 words at an average narration pace of 155 words per minute. The range is roughly 8,400 (slow) to 10,200 (fast) words.
How long is an 80,000-word audiobook?
Around 8.5 to 9 hours at an average pace.
What is a finished hour?
A finished hour is one hour of final, edited audio. It is the standard unit used to price audiobook narration, editing and mastering.
How accurate is this calculator?
It gives a close estimate. The real length depends on your narration speed, pauses and how much front and back matter you record.
Know Your Length? Get a Fixed Quote
Send your word count and a five-minute sample. We’ll send back an edited sample and an exact price.