How long does it take to read Little Women?

About 8 h 55 min at 260 words per minute, assuming 275 words per page. At 30 minutes a day that is 18 days.

How many words is Little Women?

Roughly 139,000 words, estimated from the median page count at 275 words per page. Open Library does not record word counts, so this is an estimate.

Book · by Louisa May Alcott · first published 1996

How many pages is Little Women?

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott has a median of 506 pages across 291 English-language print editions with a recorded page count; the middle half of editions run 390 to 580 pages.

Median pages

506

291 editions counted

Range

217–791

shortest to longest edition

Reading time

8.9h

at 260 wpm (fiction average)

Words (est.)

139k

at 275 words per page

Book 1 of March Trilogy

Next: Little Men: Life at Plumfield with Jo’s Boys

Series in order

How long will Little Women take you?

Starts at the fiction average of 260 words per minute and 275 words per page. Move the slider to your own speed.

Reading speed 260 wpm

Page density

Reading time

8 h 55 min

At 30 min a day

18 days

At 1 hour a day

9 days

Page count of every edition, by year

Each dot is one English-language print edition. Shaded: middle half of editions. Line: median.

Open Library edition records (2026-09-30 dump). 1 edition without a publication year not plotted.

Pages by format

Hardcover, paperback and mass-market editions are typeset differently, so the same text can run to more or fewer pages.

Format	Median pages	Editions	Reading time
Hardcover	400	25	7 h 03 min
Paperback	489	31	8 h 37 min

Editions counted

The 291 editions behind the figures above, newest first. 55 more editions were set aside because the page count was less than half or more than 2.2 times the median, which usually means an abridged text, an omnibus, or a typing error. Open Library lists 1,888 editions of this work in all languages and formats.

Year	Publisher	Format	Pages	Open Library
2021	Independently Published	–	637	OL34210376M
2021	Wordsworth Editions, Limited	–	464	OL33933505M
2021	Independently Published	–	639	OL34207288M
2021	Independently Published	–	639	OL34145108M
2021	Book Sales, Incorporated	–	528	OL33917048M
2021	Independently Published	–	674	OL34144464M
2021	Independently Published	–	523	OL34300024M
2021	Independently Published	–	674	OL34328593M
2021	Blurb, Incorporated	–	370	OL44283786M
2021	Independently Published	–	639	OL34354657M
2021	Independently Published	–	638	OL34235634M
2021	HarperCollins Publishers Limited	–	400	OL33957951M
2021	Independently Published	–	414	OL34164124M
2021	Independently Published	–	639	OL34288948M
2021	Independently Published	–	639	OL34298333M
2020	Independently Published	–	422	OL29954174M
2020	Independently Published	–	500	OL30200271M
2020	Independently Published	–	406	OL30197379M
2020	West Margin Press	–	402	OL30195119M
2020	Lulu Press, Inc.	–	228	OL30203936M
2020	Independently Published	–	505	OL30207446M
2020	Independently Published	–	655	OL30006331M
2020	Independently Published	–	300	OL30069545M
2020	Independently Published	–	667	OL29991753M
2020	Independently Published	–	529	OL29911386M
2020	Bibliotech Press	–	332	OL30205415M
2020	Independently Published	–	444	OL30192449M
2020	Independently Published	–	622	OL30197526M
2020	Independently Published	–	557	OL29931137M
2020	Flame Tree Publishing	–	672	OL28064618M
2020	Independently Published	–	637	OL30354987M
2020	Independently Published	–	500	OL30194948M
2020	Independently Published	–	364	OL30198737M
2020	Abrams, Inc.	–	480	OL29500865M
2020	Independently Published	–	478	OL30197805M
2020	Independently Published	–	444	OL30193749M
2020	Bibliotech Press	–	334	OL30205416M
2020	Independently Published	–	535	OL30258966M
2020	Independently Published	–	533	OL34216144M
2020	Open Road Integrated Media, Inc.	–	528	OL30163004M
2020	Independently Published	–	528	OL30068078M
2020	Independently Published	–	398	OL29997445M
2020	Independently Published	–	257	OL30052931M
2020	Penguin Young Readers Group	–	704	OL29836215M
2020	Independently Published	–	492	OL34201625M
2020	Bibliotech Press	–	350	OL30307884M
2020	Independently Published	–	289	OL30194753M
2020	Bibliotech Press	–	352	OL30307885M
2020	Independently Published	–	551	OL30040486M
2020	Gildan Media Corporation	–	610	OL29490824M
2020	Open Road Integrated Media, Inc.	–	528	OL30163003M
2020	Independently Published	–	667	OL29930889M
2020	Independently Published	–	529	OL29935599M
2020	Independently Published	–	476	OL30199053M
2020	Independently Published	–	224	OL30003559M
2019	Paper Mill Press	paperback	285	OL32470374M
2019	Abrams, Inc.	–	512	OL28907835M
2019	Nelson Incorporated, Thomas	–	656	OL34109665M
2019	Independently Published	–	441	OL29883256M
2019	Nelson Incorporated, Thomas	–	448	OL28728067M
2019	Penguin Publishing Group	–	528	OL29457182M
2019	Penguin Publishing Group	–	480	OL29458815M
2019	Penguin Books, Limited	–	400	OL28708597M
2019	Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing	–	336	OL29817138M
2019	Gibbs Smith	Hardcover	507	OL27300715M
2018	Penguin Random House	–	624	OL30599765M
2018	–	–	593	OL26968248M
2018	West Margin Press	–	464	OL33575928M
2018	Penguin Books, Limited	–	576	OL28688102M
2018	Legend Press	–	576	OL29364575M
2018	CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform	–	340	OL29797720M
2018	Wordsworth Editions, Limited	–	384	OL28694425M
2018	Legend Press	–	576	OL29364587M
2017	Penguin Books, Limited	–	400	OL28624305M
2017	Amazon Publishing	–	592	OL34076358M
2017	CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform	–	368	OL29775890M
2017	Pan Macmillan	–	656	OL28609737M
2016	Joe Books Inc.	–	510	OL34038198M
2016	Alma Classics	–	528	OL28597184M
2016	CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform	–	574	OL36321463M
2016	W. W. Norton & Company	–	652	OL27193083M
2015	Joe Books Inc.	–	321	OL34075095M
2015	Xist Publishing	–	519	OL29716631M
2015	Oxford University Press	–	368	OL28549774M
2015	Norton & Company, Incorporated, W. W.	–	736	OL29714985M
2014	CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform	–	580	OL36308750M
2014	Lerner Publishing Group	–	714	OL29228314M
2014	Scholastic	–	352	OL29237878M
2014	Lerner Publishing Group	–	710	OL29778674M
2014	Puffin Books	–	777	OL26882902M
2014	Lerner Publishing Group	–	710	OL29686880M
2014	Quarto Publishing Group USA	–	528	OL29222494M
2014	Lerner Publishing Group	–	710	OL29779635M
2014	Sweet Water Press	–	508	OL37801901M
2014	Lerner Publishing Group	–	693	OL29692605M
2014	Lerner Publishing Group	–	710	OL29779595M
2013	Simon & Schuster, Limited	–	592	OL34490243M
2013	Joe Books Inc.	–	560	OL34048791M
2013	Belknap Press	–	640	OL26820233M
2012	Barnes & Noble	–	448	OL30727487M
2012	Transatlantic Press	–	286	OL32121520M
2012	CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform	–	438	OL36303040M
2012	Penguin Random House	–	432	OL28485316M
2012	Simon & Schuster, Limited	–	704	OL33408518M
2012	Printers Row Publishing Group	–	472	OL29662651M
2011	Penguin Books, Limited	–	544	OL28446760M
2011	Kennebec Large Print	–	781	OL25066533M
2010	Lulu Press, Inc.	–	356	OL34436321M
2009	Simon & Schuster Paperbacks	–	650	OL23949090M
2008	Penguin Books, Limited	–	400	OL28450072M
2008	Oxford University Press	Paperback	489	OL23181400M
2008	Puffin Books	–	777	OL23159823M
2007	Echo Library	Paperback	368	OL11682592M
2007	NuVision Publications	Paperback	408	OL12439271M
2007	Oxford University Press, USA	Hardcover	320	OL9612968M
2007	BiblioBazaar	Paperback	562	OL9598030M
2007	Penguin Classics	Paperback	528	OL10099930M
2006	ICON Group International, Inc.	Paperback	576	OL10416428M
2006	ICON Group International, Inc.	Paperback	584	OL10416551M
2006	ICON Group International, Inc.	Paperback	580	OL10370569M
2006	ReadHowYouWant.com	Paperback	384	OL11859049M
2006	ReadHowYouWant.com	Paperback	288	OL11858994M
2006	Icon Reference	Paperback	660	OL7652773M
2006	ReadHowYouWant.com	Paperback	280	OL11858991M
2006	Kaplan Publishing	Paperback	304	OL10723407M
2006	ICON Group International, Inc.	Paperback	614	OL10416749M
2006	Knopf	–	527	OL26646688M
2006	Book Jungle	Paperback	460	OL8877821M
2006	ReadHowYouWant.com	Paperback	392	OL11859051M
2006	Echo Library	Paperback	584	OL8411521M
2006	ReadHowYouWant.com	Paperback	240	OL11858940M
2006	ICON Reference	Paperback	580	OL9878959M
2006	ICON Reference	Paperback	584	OL9530536M
2006	ICON Group International, Inc.	Paperback	584	OL10370464M
2006	ReadHowYouWant.com	Paperback	240	OL11858942M
2005	Wildside Press, LLC	–	408	OL36187215M
2005	Thomson Wadsworth	–	380	OL3314870M
2004	Barnes & Noble Classics	Paperback	528	OL8870184M
2004	Signet Classic	–	456	OL3690687M
2004	Norton	–	665	OL3688152M
2004	Collector's Library	Hardcover	326	OL8772700M
2004	Sterling Pub.	–	525	OL3294538M
2004	Sterling Publishing Co., Inc.	–	542	OL46925394M
2004	Ann Arbor Media Group	Hardcover	469	OL8823736M
2004	Meijer Distribution	–	478	OL30098545M
2003	W. W. Norton	–	672	OL7459036M
2003	P&R Pub.	–	217	OL3687085M
2002	Gramercy books	–	388	OL3560066M
2001	Trident Press	–	541	OL32358939M
2001	Broadview Press	–	619	OL3969756M
2001	Adamant Media Corporation	Paperback	338	OL9320675M
2001	HarperFestival	–	791	OL6786181M
2001	Puffin Books	–	336	OL7359590M
2000	Scholastic Paperbacks	–	576	OL7510095M
2000	Courage Books	Hardcover	688	OL8032765M
2000	Trident Reference Publishing	Leather bound	544	OL8788448M
2000	Modern Library	–	506	OL6792105M
2000	Dover Publications	–	549	OL47851M
2000	Trident Press International	–	532	OL6805974M
2000	Abbeville Pr	Hardcover	288	OL11143613M
2000	Aladdin	Paperback	704	OL7729476M
2000	Abbeville Pr	Paperback	288	OL11143611M
2000	Trident Reference Publishing	Hardcover	544	OL8788445M
1999	Tandem Library	School & Library Binding	472	OL11220379M
1999	Focus on the Family Publishing	Paperback	526	OL8638431M
1998	Children's Classics	Hardcover	400	OL7680684M
1998	Pavilion Books	Paperback	288	OL12060590M
1998	Oxford University Press, USA	–	528	OL7384047M
1998	MQ Publications	Hardcover	256	OL12246329M
1998	North Books	Hardcover	559	OL12286505M
1997	Tally Hall Press	–	635	OL35658499M
1997	Macmillan Children's Books	Hardcover	480	OL10552046M
1997	Viking	–	285	OL704421M
1997	Focus on the Family Pub	Hardcover	600	OL8638367M
1997	Puffin	–	688	OL7354296M
1997	Viking Juvenile	Hardcover	288	OL7643428M
1997	Focus on the Family Pub.	–	526	OL660817M
1997	–	–	669	OL22142333M
1996	Amereon Ltd	Hardcover	376	OL11558680M
1995	Puffin	–	336	OL7354000M
1995	Scholastic	–	562	OL20940410M
1995	Courage Books	–	688	OL1125977M
1994	Oxford University Press	–	489	OL1078507M
1994	Bloomsbury	–	255	OL22834661M
1994	Tor Classics	Mass Market Paperback	480	OL9629785M
1994	Little, Brown	Hardcover	512	OL9642593M
1994	Penguin	–	217	OL22605664M
1994	A.A. Knopf	–	527	OL1082277M
1994	Parragon Book Service	–	458	OL22802383M
1994	Little, Brown	–	502	OL1093073M
1994	Longmeadow Press	–	288	OL1112055M
1994	Little, Brown Young Readers	Paperback	512	OL9899997M
1993	Holt	–	464	OL1410229M
1993	Macmillan Children's	–	464	OL22773324M
1993	Wordsworth Classics	–	246	OL22812031M
1993	Colour Library Direct	–	502	OL43158197M
1993	Henry Holth & Co (J)	Hardcover	464	OL7931826M
1991	Tiger Books International	–	450	OL22832018M
1989	Hippo	–	271	OL22789061M
1989	Penguin Books	–	504	OL2044927M
1988	Children's Classics	Hardcover	400	OL7704357M
1988	World Book	–	579	OL2410127M
1988	Methuen Children's	–	320	OL22778294M
1988	Ariel Books/Knopf	–	476	OL2408199M
1987	Golden Book	–	685	OL2379633M
1987	Children's Classics	–	388	OL2739278M
1987	Ulverscroft Large Print	Library Binding	336	OL9578056M
1987	Dell	–	595	OL13548776M
1987	Portland House	Hardcover	388	OL7681446M
1987	Puffin	–	303	OL22569184M
1986	Longmeadow Press	–	388	OL24620928M
1986	Collier Books	–	543	OL26336049M
1986	Beehive	–	233	OL22811325M
1986	Hamlyn	–	237	OL22856506M
1985	Reader's Digest Association	–	431	OL2873537M
1983	Scholastic	–	271	OL22789037M
1983	Bantam Classics	Paperback	480	OL7820436M
1983	Bantam	–	472	OL22786640M
1983	Modern Library	–	603	OL3159166M
1983	Signet Classics	–	480	OL7577070M
1982	Franklin Library	–	510	OL3120771M
1982	Wanderer Books	–	561	OL4269842M
1980	Penguin Books	–	311	OL22365630M
1980	Franklin Library	–	515	OL4158264M
1978	Grosset & Dunlap	–	500	OL24501624M
1975	Dent, New York, Dutton	–	303	OL22324740M
1970	Western Publishing Co.	–	290	OL47697846M
1969	World Pub. Co.	–	544	OL5216278M
1968	Little, Brown	–	444	OL23251206M
1968	Little, Brown	–	444	OL5613156M
1967	Printed for the members of the Limited Editions Club	–	429	OL5597013M
1967	Heritage Press	–	428	OL17722275M
1966	Folio Society	–	251	OL19717903M
1965	Racine, USA	Hardcover	282	OL27917938M
1965	Golden Press	–	254	OL26342908M
1965	Whitman Pub. Co.	–	254	OL5941341M
1964	Dent	–	303	OL5601318M
1963	Grosset & Dunlap	–	500	OL5876913M
1962	Collier Books, a division of Macmillan Pub. Co., inc.	–	543	OL5857934M
1962	Macmillan	–	575	OL5856597M
1957	Dean & Son Ltd	–	222	OL45619296M
1955	Crowell	–	554	OL6175953M
1954	Collins	–	448	OL22705063M
1953	THAMES PUBLISHING CO,. LONDON	–	254	OL44787479M
1950	Nelson Doubleday	–	376	OL17782274M
1950	Modern Library	–	596	OL6070857M
1950	Literary Guild of America	–	376	OL6074215M
1947	Grosset & Dunlap	–	643	OL7539813M
1947	Grosset & Dunlap	–	643	OL13545383M
1947	Grosset & Dunlap	Hardcover	546	OL6510728M
1947	Grosset & Dunlap	–	643	OL6510725M
1947	Grosset & Dunlap	–	680	OL43645664M
1946	Little, Brown	–	524	OL45013999M
1946	The World publishing company	–	537	OL13539958M
1946	Little, Brown and company	–	503	OL6497376M
1939	Little, Brown	–	397	OL17639917M
1939	Little, Brown	–	397	OL17909377M
1934	Little, Brown	–	524	OL6309792M
1932	Garden City publishing company, inc.	–	475	OL6277392M
1929	Saalfield	–	630	OL32121526M
1928	Ginn and company	–	611	OL17639098M
1926	The Saalfield Publishing Company	–	476	OL6697163M
1926	The Macmillan company	–	535	OL6691779M
1926	The John C. Winston Company	–	496	OL6690529M
1924	Little, Brown	–	397	OL13539957M
1920	Grosset & Dunlap	–	462	OL47803988M
1919	Little, Brown, and Co.	–	532	OL25129264M
1918	Little, Brown	–	617	OL25071888M
1916	Little, Brown, and co.	–	532	OL7169044M
1915	Little, Brown	–	524	OL7026067M
1915	Little, Brown	–	524	OL23335391M
1915	Grosset & Dunlap	–	440	OL31884614M
1915	Little, Brown, and company	–	532	OL26882396M
1915	Little, Brown	–	617	OL7208979M
1912	Little, Brown, and Company	–	617	OL45092517M
1911	Burt	–	424	OL45013985M
1908	Little, Brown, and Company	–	586	OL16889899M
1906	Little, Brown	–	532	OL16861974M
1903	Little, Brown	–	532	OL18113091M
1901	Little, Brown, and company	–	532	OL17780476M
1900	Ward, Lock & Co Limited	Hardcover	300	OL25442033M
1896	Little, Brown	–	586	OL17730527M
1896	Little, Brown	–	586	OL7092213M
1891	Roberts Brothers	–	532	OL17620094M
1888	Roberts Brothers	–	532	OL24067093M
1887	Roberts Brothers	–	532	OL7150341M
1880	Roberts Brothers.	–	586	OL17204953M
1870	Roberts Bros.	–	341	OL45013998M
1868	Roberts Bros.	–	341	OL1175196M
1867	Reprint Services Corp	Library Binding	451	OL9861438M
–	–	Hardcover	320	OL8407504M

More by Louisa May Alcott

All 4 books by Louisa May Alcott with page counts

Questions

How many pages is Little Women?: About 506 pages: that is the median of 291 English-language print editions on Open Library. Editions range from 217 to 791 pages.
How long does it take to read Little Women?: About 8 h 55 min at 260 words per minute, assuming 275 words per page. At 30 minutes a day that is 18 days.
How many words is Little Women?: Roughly 139,000 words, estimated from the median page count at 275 words per page. Open Library does not record word counts, so this is an estimate.

Data: Open Library monthly data dumps (works, editions, authors, reading log, ratings) (Open Library / Internet Archive); How many words do we read per minute? A review and meta-analysis of reading rate (Marc Brysbaert, Journal of Memory and Language 109 (2019)); Wikidata: part of the series (P179) and series ordinal (Wikimedia Foundation / Wikidata contributors).