Reading Speed Guide
From average to elite: understand what different reading speeds mean and how to achieve them.
Below Average
25th percentile200 WPM is below the average adult reading speed (250-300 WPM). This slower pace may indicate strong subvocalization or lack of reading practice. The good news: with LumaRead's training, you can quickly improve to 400+ WPM.
Average
50th percentile300 WPM is the average adult reading speed. At this speed, you're reading about 1 page per minute for standard text. You're in good company, but there's significant room for improvement with LumaRead.
Above Average
Top 25%400 WPM is above average and puts you in the top 25% of readers. At this speed, you've likely reduced subvocalization and developed some chunking ability. LumaRead can help you reach the elite 600+ WPM tier.
Advanced
Top 10%500 WPM is considered advanced and puts you in roughly the top 10% of readers. This is an achievable goal for most people with LumaRead's structured training. At this speed, you're reading 2+ pages per minute.
Elite
Top 5%600 WPM is elite-level reading speed that puts you in the top 5% of readers worldwide. At this pace, you're reading 2.5+ pages per minute with minimal subvocalization and advanced chunking skills. LumaRead's progressive training makes this achievable.
Expert
Top 1%700 WPM is considered expert-level reading speed, putting you in roughly the top 1% of readers. At this pace, you're processing information faster than most people can imagine - nearly 3 pages per minute. LumaRead's advanced training helps you reach this elite tier.
Master
Top 0.5%800 WPM is master-level reading speed achieved by less than 0.5% of readers. At nearly 3.5 pages per minute, you're processing text at exceptional speeds. This level requires months of dedicated training with LumaRead.
Elite Master
Top 0.1%900 WPM is elite master-level reading achieved by roughly 0.1% of readers. At 4 pages per minute, you're operating at the edge of human reading capability. LumaRead's accelerating RSVP training is designed to help you reach these extraordinary speeds.
Exceptional
Top 0.01%1000 WPM is exceptional reading speed achieved by very few readers worldwide. At over 4 pages per minute, you're reading faster than most people can skim. This represents the practical upper limit for reading with comprehension. LumaRead's maximum speeds support this elite performance.
Superhuman
Top 0.001%1200+ WPM approaches the theoretical limits of human reading with comprehension. At 5+ pages per minute, this is more akin to advanced skimming or specialized pattern recognition than traditional reading. Very few people operate at these speeds. LumaRead's training can help you explore your absolute limits.
Speed Comparison
| Speed (WPM) | Level | Percentile | Key Characteristics |
|---|---|---|---|
| 200 WPM | Below Average | 25th percentile | Below average reading speed |
| 300 WPM | Average | 50th percentile | Typical adult reading speed |
| 400 WPM | Above Average | Top 25% | Top 25% of readers |
| 500 WPM | Advanced | Top 10% | Top 10% of readers |
| 600 WPM | Elite | Top 5% | Top 5% of readers |
| 700 WPM | Expert | Top 1% | Top 1% of readers |
| 800 WPM | Master | Top 0.5% | Top 0.5% of readers |
| 900 WPM | Elite Master | Top 0.1% | Top 0.1% of readers |
| 1000 WPM | Exceptional | Top 0.01% | Top 0.01% of readers |
| 1200 WPM | Superhuman | Top 0.001% | Extremely rare achievement |
What Does WPM Mean?
WPM stands for Words Per Minute, the standard measure of reading speed. It indicates how many words you can read and comprehend in one minute.
The average adult reads at about 300 WPM, which means reading a typical 300-page book takes around 6-8 hours. By increasing your reading speed to 600 WPM, you could read the same book in 3-4 hours.
Reading Speed by Context:
- Technical reading: 100-200 WPM (complex material)
- Casual reading: 200-300 WPM (average)
- Skimming: 400-700 WPM (looking for info)
- Speed reading: 500-1000+ WPM (trained readers)
What's Your Reading Speed?
Test your reading speed with LumaRead's RSVP speed reader