The average reading speed of a child in elementary school is around 200 words per minute (wpm). By the time we reach adulthood, it hasn’t improved much, as, on average, most adults read at a speed of about 200 to 250 words per minute. While comprehension at this rate is considered reasonable, at 250 words per minute it will be difficult to read large amounts of information in a short period of time.

Some people claim to read at speeds of 10,000 words per minute or even 25,000 words per minute and say that they can still understand everything they have read. Although these exceptional individuals can reach speeds like this, a speed of 1000 to 1200 words per minute is the speed at which contestants read in World Championship speed reading competitions. So if your average reading speed is close to this rate, you can consider that you are doing fantastically well. Don’t feel like you need to reach championship levels to meet your learning and reading goals. It is up to each and every individual to decide how much to push the speed limits!

For a person interested in increasing their skills, a goal of 500 to 800 words per minute is an excellent goal. At this rate, large amounts of work can be done in a short time while maintaining an understanding level of approximately 75% or more. This is an excellent level of understanding and probably more than adequate for any of your required purposes. Compare this to the average adult reading rate (200-250 words per minute), where their comprehension level is only half or slightly more than the material they have read.

800 – 1000 words per minute would be an exceptional achievement. To have reached this level, a person may have invested in an excellent speed reading course and practiced speed drills. Believe it or not, understanding at this level is also outstanding, reaching levels of 100% or very close to 100%.

Results of 100-200 words per minute are considered a basic reading rate. In terms of adults, this is a lower than average speed, but for children between 6 and 12 years old, it can be considered as average. At this rate, only low levels of understanding are achieved. An adult reading at this rate will be amazed at what some of the simple techniques will do for your reading speed. Reading at any rate below 100 words per minute will likely be read by someone who is still learning to read or perhaps someone who is reading in a second or third language. At this rate, understanding will be difficult.