function calculateReadingPlan() {
// 1. Get input values
var pages = document.getElementById('bookPages').value;
var wordsPerPage = document.getElementById('wordsPerPage').value;
var wpm = document.getElementById('readingSpeed').value;
var dailyMinutes = document.getElementById('dailyMinutes').value;
// 2. Convert to numbers
var numPages = parseFloat(pages);
var numWordsPerPage = parseFloat(wordsPerPage);
var numWpm = parseFloat(wpm);
var numDailyMinutes = parseFloat(dailyMinutes);
// 3. Validation
var resultBox = document.getElementById('results');
if (isNaN(numPages) || isNaN(numWordsPerPage) || isNaN(numWpm) || isNaN(numDailyMinutes)) {
alert("Please fill in all fields with valid numbers.");
resultBox.style.display = "none";
return;
}
if (numPages <= 0 || numWordsPerPage <= 0 || numWpm <= 0 || numDailyMinutes <= 0) {
alert("All values must be greater than zero.");
resultBox.style.display = "none";
return;
}
// 4. Calculations
var totalWords = numPages * numWordsPerPage;
var totalMinutesNeeded = totalWords / numWpm;
var totalHoursNeeded = totalMinutesNeeded / 60;
var pagesPerHour = (numWpm * 60) / numWordsPerPage;
var daysToFinish = totalMinutesNeeded / numDailyMinutes;
// 5. Update UI
document.getElementById('resTotalWords').innerHTML = totalWords.toLocaleString();
document.getElementById('resTotalHours').innerHTML = totalHoursNeeded.toFixed(1) + " hours";
document.getElementById('resPagesPerHour').innerHTML = Math.round(pagesPerHour) + " pages/hr";
document.getElementById('resDaysToFinish').innerHTML = Math.ceil(daysToFinish) + " days";
// Show results
resultBox.style.display = "block";
}
Understanding Reading Rate Characteristics
Calculating your reading timeline involves more than just looking at the thickness of a book. To get an accurate estimate of how long a text will take to complete, we analyze four specific characteristics: Text Length, Density, Reading Velocity, and Schedule Commitment.
The Four Key Characteristics
This calculator uses the following four logic points to determine your reading efficiency:
Total Pages: The physical or digital length of the book. While pages vary in size, they act as the primary unit of measurement for progress.
Density (Words Per Page): Not all pages are created equal. A standard paperback novel typically contains 250-300 words per page, while a dense academic textbook might contain 500-600. Knowing this density is crucial for converting pages into total word count.
Velocity (WPM): The average adult reads at approximately 200 to 250 words per minute (WPM). Speed reading techniques can push this to 400+, while complex technical material may slow it down to 150.
Commitment (Daily Minutes): Consistency is the final variable. Your rate of completion is inversely proportional to your daily time investment.
How to Estimate Words Per Page
If you aren't sure what number to enter for "Average Words Per Page," use these general benchmarks:
Standard Paperback / Fiction: ~250 words
Hardcover / Non-Fiction: ~300-350 words
Academic / Textbook: ~450-600 words
Children's Books: ~50-150 words
Improving Your Statistics
To reduce the "Days to Finish" metric, you can either increase your daily commitment or improve your WPM velocity. Improving reading speed involves reducing subvocalization (saying words in your head) and increasing your peripheral vision to take in chunks of words rather than individual syllables.