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- Listening time = audiobook length ÷ playback speed.
- At 1.5x you save one third of the time. At 2x you save half.
- Enter your daily listening time to see how many days the book will take.
- A table shows the same audiobook at every common speed.
How to use the audiobook speed calculator
Enter the length
Type the hours and minutes shown on the audiobook page.
Set the playback speed
Use 1 for normal speed, 1.5 for one and a half times faster, and so on.
Add daily listening time
Optional. Enter the hours you listen each day to estimate the days to finish.
Compare speeds
Read the table to see the time at other speeds, including slower ones.
How listening time is calculated
Playing faster shortens the run time by dividing the original length by the speed. A 10 hour book at 2x runs 5 hours. Playing slower lengthens it.
Audiobook speed formulas
Listening time = original length ÷ speed
Time saved = original length − listening time
Percent saved = 1 − 1 ÷ speed
The percentage saved grows more slowly at high speeds: going from 2x to 3x saves only 16.7 percentage points more.
Audiobook speed examples
Example 1: an 11 h 30 min audiobook at 1.5x
Listening 1 hour a day.
- Listening time 7 h 40 min
- Time saved 3 h 50 min
- Time saved (percent) 33.3%
- Days to finish 8
You finish about 3 h 50 min earlier than at normal speed.
Example 2: a 10 hour audiobook at 2x
Double speed.
- Listening time 5 h 0 min
- Time saved 5 h 0 min
At 2x the book takes exactly half as long.
Example 3: a slower speed
The same 10 hour book at 0.75x.
- Listening time 13 h 20 min
- Extra time 3 h 20 min
Slowing down adds time, which can help with dense or technical books.
An 11 h 30 min audiobook at other speeds
Listening time and time saved.
- 1x 11 h 30 min
- 1.25x 9 h 12 min (saves 2 h 18 min)
- 1.5x 7 h 40 min (saves 3 h 50 min)
- 1.75x 6 h 34 min (saves 4 h 56 min)
- 2x 5 h 45 min (saves 5 h 45 min)
- 2.5x 4 h 36 min (saves 6 h 54 min)
- 3x 3 h 50 min (saves 7 h 40 min)
Most listeners settle between 1.25x and 2x.
Where an audiobook speed calculator helps
Plan your reading goals
Find how many books you can finish in a month at your usual speed.
Fit a book into a trip
Check whether a book fits a commute or a flight.
Pick a comfortable speed
Compare the time saved against how well you follow the story.
Track your daily listening
See how many days a long book takes at one hour a day.
Narrators speak at different paces, so the same speed can feel fast on one book and slow on another. Related tools: Time Duration Calculator and Days From Date Calculator.
Audiobook speed calculator FAQ
How do I calculate audiobook time at 1.5x?
Divide the original length by 1.5. An 11 h 30 min audiobook takes 7 h 40 min at 1.5x.
How much time does 1.5x save?
One third of the original length, or 33.3 percent.
How much time does 2x save?
Half of the original length. A 10 hour audiobook takes 5 hours.
Is 2x too fast to understand?
It depends on the narrator and the book. Many people start at 1.25x and move up in small steps until it stops feeling comfortable.
Does a faster speed change the voice?
Most audiobook apps adjust the speed while keeping the pitch natural, but the quality depends on the app.
How many days will a book take?
Divide the listening time by the hours you listen each day and round up. The calculator does this when you enter a daily listening time.