How long does it take to read Macbeth?

About 2 h 28 min at 260 words per minute, assuming 275 words per page. At 30 minutes a day that is 5 days.

How many words is Macbeth?

Roughly 38,000 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 William Shakespeare · first published 2003

How many pages is Macbeth?

Macbeth by William Shakespeare has a median of 140 pages across 595 English-language print editions with a recorded page count; the middle half of editions run 109 to 194 pages.

Median pages

140

595 editions counted

Range

63–302

shortest to longest edition

Reading time

2.5h

at 260 wpm (fiction average)

Words (est.)

38k

at 275 words per page

How long will Macbeth 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

2 h 28 min

At 30 min a day

5 days

At 1 hour a day

3 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). 295 editions 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	183	15	3 h 14 min
Paperback	140	59	2 h 28 min

Editions counted

The 595 editions behind the figures above, newest first. 82 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 1,868 editions of this work in all languages and formats.

Year	Publisher	Format	Pages	Open Library
1993	Dover Publications	–	82	OL1412839M
1992	Washington Square Press	–	223	OL1463424M
1992	Palgrave Macmillan	Hardcover	172	OL10385300M
1992	St. Martin's Press	–	172	OL1556060M
1992	Ulverscroft Large Print	Paperback	223	OL9902748M
1992	Washington Square Press	Mass Market Paperback	223	OL7663225M
1990	Hyperion Books	Hardcover	207	OL9347891M
1990	Boynton/Cook Publishers	–	141	OL1871569M
1990	Oxford University Press	–	249	OL2202141M
1990	Shakespeare-For-Today Trust	Paperback	179	OL8520756M
1990	Shakespeare-For-Today Trust	–	179	OL1511626M
1988	Bantam Books	–	135	OL2394463M
1988	Basil Blackwell	–	160	OL21576564M
1988	Hodder and Stoughton	–	96	OL15008927M
1987	Oxford University Press, USA	–	124	OL7399615M
1987	New American Library	–	267	OL22906836M
1986	Macmillan	–	94	OL21288266M
1986	Longman	–	262	OL2466723M
1986	New American Library	–	259	OL24654680M
1986	Swan Books	–	63	OL2713088M
1985	Barron's	–	223	OL2865262M
1985	Humanities Press Intl Inc	Paperback	80	OL10496599M
1984	RH Canada UK Dist	Paperback	223	OL9979910M
1984	Nelson Thornes Ltd	–	223	OL7317938M
1984	Bob Jones University Press	Paperback	98	OL2428812M
1984	Hutchinson	–	223	OL21391297M
1983	Published by CBC Enterprises in association with the Stratfo	–	120	OL32122801M
1983	Perfection Learning Corporation	Paperback	212	OL8253428M
1983	Perfection Form Co.	–	212	OL2646144M
1983	Swan Books	–	111	OL3170163M
1982	Oval Projects	–	91	OL14267172M
1982	Workman	–	91	OL3784828M
1981	Coles Publishing	–	121	OL20817373M
1981	Penguin Classics	–	208	OL7357273M
1981	Coles	–	87	OL14893806M
1980	Sydney University Press	–	124	OL16316155M
1977	Routledge	Hardcover	276	OL10210694M
1977	Royal Composing Room	–	200	OL4759184M
1976	AMS Press	–	118	OL5092109M
1976	Clarendon Press	–	191	OL4949372M
1975	Washington Square Press	–	93	OL39470340M
1974	[Perma-bound]	–	93	OL26334498M
1973	Collins	–	216	OL5122166M
1973	Hayden Book Co.	–	141	OL5305457M
1972	Methuen	–	190	OL43780539M
1972	Oliver and Boyd	–	137	OL5459866M
1972	Oliver and Boyd	Paperback	137	OL9947746M
1972	Festival Editions of Canada	–	136	OL26575026M
1971	Penguin Books	–	112	OL4438713M
1971	Macmillan	–	191	OL5449647M
1970	Washington Square Press, Inc.	–	242	OL47860341M
1969	Cornmarket P.	–	88	OL5516443M
1969	Cornmarket Press	–	67	OL26557782M
1969	Cornmarket P.	–	67	OL4659486M
1969	Cornmarket Press	–	64	OL17370566M
1969	Cambridge University Press	Hardcover	270	OL7716754M
1969	Cornmarket	–	64	OL5387346M
1969	Blackie	–	73	OL5731587M
1969	Penguin Books	–	115	OL19942613M
1968	Bobbs-Merrill	–	183	OL5550692M
1968	Cambridge U.P.	–	186	OL5651641M
1968	Cambridge University Press	Paperback	270	OL7731800M
1968	Ginn	–	72	OL21537860M
1968	Penguin Books	–	124	OL20653388M
1968	Lancer Books	–	173	OL13791965M
1967	Basic Books	–	244	OL5549469M
1967	Penguin	–	200	OL5582114M
1967	Dell Pub. Co.	–	255	OL5528175M
1967	Penguin	–	200	OL19986939M
1966	Blaisdell Pub. Co.	–	101	OL5979516M
1966	Methuen	–	205	OL5045459M
1966	Cliff's Notes	–	70	OL22472937M
1966	Wiley	–	101	OL32148485M
1966	University Tutorial P.	–	171	OL5577023M
1966	Academic Press	–	131	OL37763148M
1965	Airmont	–	120	OL5938960M
1965	Gloucester	Paperback	111	OL7851094M
1965	Methuen	–	205	OL17063460M
1965	Heinemann Educational Books	–	214	OL5751483M
1964	University Press	–	171	OL43766262M
1964	Van Nostrand Reinhold	–	276	OL7481143M
1964	Signet Classics	–	250	OL43058353M
1964	E. Arnold	–	176	OL37789359M
1964	Cambridge University Press	Hardcover	183	OL7716360M
1963	Signet Classics	–	247	OL7576760M
1963	Stanwix House	–	210	OL5858277M
1963	Regents Pub. Co.	–	125	OL5891267M
1963	Signet Classics	–	267	OL7576933M
1963	Regents Pub. Co.	–	125	OL15308323M
1963	Signet Classics	–	272	OL7577138M
1963	New American Library	–	248	OL58687588M
1963	New American Library	–	247	OL5875497M
1963	New American Library	–	247	OL40250816M
1963	New English Library	–	246	OL22833856M
1963	Yale University Press	–	138	OL22389078M
1962	Odyssey Press	–	144	OL5852754M
1962	Methuen	–	204	OL26575050M
1962	Harcourt, Brace & World	–	91	OL5859084M
1962	Methuen	–	205	OL49937186M
1961	Bantam Books	–	226	OL47780369M
1961	Bantam Books	–	200	OL5875519M
1960	University Press	–	168	OL23343006M
1960	University Pr.	–	186	OL26570956M
1960	Methuen	–	201	OL15958873M
1960	Clarke, Irwin	–	161	OL26209813M
1959	Washington Square	–	93	OL24931156M
1959	Dell Publishing Co.	–	194	OL45712155M
1959	Scott, Foresman	–	103	OL16568012M
1959	Washington Square Pr.	–	73	OL26650177M
1959	Washington Square	–	93	OL24636230M
1959	Dell Pub. Co.	–	188	OL6268024M
1959	Scott, Foresman	–	103	OL24850196M
1959	Scott, Foresman	–	103	OL24774550M
1959	Dell Publishing Co., Inc.	–	194	OL58932464M
1958	Noble and Noble	–	276	OL6267796M
1958	University Press	–	100	OL15958981M
1957	Harvard University Press	–	201	OL26983701M
1957	Milwaukee Publishers	–	83	OL6242034M
1957	Methuen	–	200	OL13534980M
1956	Penguin Classics	–	120	OL7357375M
1956	Penguin Books	–	114	OL6200867M
1954	Globe Book Co.	–	171	OL30372045M
1954	Yale University Press	–	138	OL6152476M
1954	Harrap	–	147	OL15958774M
1953	Methuen	–	200	OL6137670M
1953	Harvard University Press	–	200	OL52464940M
1952	Grabhorn Press	–	85	OL6129732M
1951	Methuen	–	196	OL6112162M
1951	Folio Society	–	111	OL22829326M
1951	Folio Society	–	111	OL43766258M
1950	Penguin Books	–	124	OL19646460M
1949	Appleton-Century-Crofts	–	77	OL6049193M
1947	University Press	–	186	OL6026467M
1947	Yale University Press	–	116	OL15958839M
1946	Doubleday & company, inc.	–	125	OL6509783M
1942	The Viking press	–	135	OL6447920M
1939	The Clarendon Press	–	191	OL59281983M
1939	Limited Editions Club	–	86	OL18785504M
1939	Ginn	–	254	OL19646467M
1939	Ginn and Company	–	254	OL6387902M
1939	Ginn	–	254	OL19680719M
1936	Ginn	–	144	OL6339693M
1936	Ginn and Co.	–	144	OL52449113M
1936	Copp Clark	–	189	OL15958908M
1935	Nobel and Nobel	–	277	OL23264884M
1935	Dent	–	98	OL43755278M
1935	Macmillan	–	127	OL19664515M
1933	D.C. Heath and company	–	153	OL6292290M
1931	Printed for Houghton Mifflin by the Riverside Press, Cambrid	–	298	OL5964254M
1931	Houghton Mifflin company	–	101	OL43766257M
1931	Houghton Mifflin company	–	298	OL43766256M
1931	Houghton, Mifflin	–	298	OL19606480M
1930	Macmillan	–	223	OL15958747M
1930	The Macmillan company	–	177	OL6743746M
1928	Houghton Mifflin	–	151	OL16788809M
1928	Methuen	–	155	OL15958729M
1928	Harlow publishing company	–	124	OL6719664M
1925	T. Nelson	–	158	OL6708996M
1925	The John C. Winston company	–	126	OL6677814M
1925	University Press	–	208	OL20748620M
1924	The Southern Publishing Company	–	160	OL6664457M
1923	The University Publishing Company	–	158	OL6657872M
1923	[Ernest Benn]	–	84	OL2916962M
1922	Haldeman-Julius Co.	–	96	OL26203183M
1921	J.B. Lippincott company	–	120	OL6634141M
1921	Dent	–	192	OL18281521M
1921	Kenkyusha	–	124	OL24646129M
1920	Cambridge University Press	Hardcover	244	OL7716366M
1919	Scott, Foresman and Company	–	184	OL43768714M
1918	Yale University Press	–	116	OL6609527M
1917	H. Holt	–	145	OL6595433M
1917	Methuen	–	155	OL7080221M
1916	Copp, Clark Co.	–	153	OL19641287M
1916	Copp Clark Co.	–	151	OL24132542M
1916	Copp, Clark	–	153	OL53658951M
1916	Copp Clark Co.	–	153	OL23809700M
1916	National Capital Press	–	92	OL32232687M
1915	Heath	–	190	OL20748589M
1915	Ginn and company	–	159	OL6725700M
1915	W. H. Baker & co.	–	68	OL24819268M
1915	W. H. Baker & co.	–	68	OL24733655M
1914	Clarendon Press	–	172	OL45481850M
1913	Lyons & Carnahan	–	154	OL23719416M
1913	B. F. Johnson Pub. Co.	–	162	OL6556531M
1911	Macmillan	–	135	OL21217268M
1911	The Macmillan company	–	166	OL45992638M
1911	The Macmillan company	–	135	OL6537967M
1911	MacMillan Co.	–	185	OL24144518M
1910	American Book Company	–	128	OL15384503M
1910	American Book Company	–	112	OL6524550M
1910	C. Scribner	–	210	OL24734971M
1910	C. Scribner	–	210	OL7018180M
1910	C. Scribner	–	210	OL24819136M
1909	Grosset & Dunlap	–	174	OL58932463M
1909	Silver, Burdett & Co.	–	269	OL7010737M
1909	Silver, Burdett	–	269	OL24172767M
1908	Cassell & Co Ltd	Hardcover	149	OL25432233M
1908	Ginn and company	–	159	OL24992239M
1908	Ginn and Company	–	159	OL14045747M
1908	Ginn and Company	–	159	OL22895497M
1907	Morang Educational Co.	–	203	OL24132907M
1907	Morang	–	117	OL7076203M
1905	American Book Company	–	264	OL16610802M
1905	American Book Co.	–	264	OL44603739M
1905	American Book Co.	–	264	OL24653055M
1905	American Book Co.	–	264	OL24785224M
1904	T.Y. Crowell & co.	–	284	OL6944062M
1904	American Book Co.	–	269	OL6942812M
1904	D.C. Heath & co.	–	188	OL16668517M
1904	Dent	–	127	OL16338746M
1903	Doubleday, Page & Co.	–	247	OL13497597M
1903	Doubleday, Page & Co.	–	247	OL23661124M
1903	Doubleday, Page	–	247	OL7160531M
1902	Ainsworth & company	–	155	OL6919013M
1901	The University Society	–	165	OL14638126M
1901	University Society	–	165	OL23316664M
1901	Blackie & Son	–	188	OL44603550M
1901	Cambridge University Press	–	288	OL44604455M
1900	Crane & Co.	–	128	OL6911057M
1900	Mursia	–	177	OL53682244M
1900	Globe school book company	–	144	OL6774644M
1899	D. Appleton and company	–	195	OL528513M
1898	American book company	–	119	OL23719530M
1898	Ginn & Co.	–	203	OL24930016M
1898	Ginn & Co.	–	203	OL24638216M
1898	American Book Co.	–	264	OL25771090M
1898	The Macmillan company	–	185	OL23719425M
1898	The Macmillan company	–	185	OL23403863M
1898	Macmillan	–	185	OL25072391M
1898	Nassau Press	–	72	OL43578995M
1898	The Macmillan company	–	185	OL15075506M
1898	Harper	–	264	OL18074563M
1898	American book company	–	264	OL24172109M
1898	American book company	–	264	OL15028616M
1898	Ginn & Co.	–	203	OL24832671M
1898	Nassau Press	–	72	OL7032216M
1898	D. Appleton & co.	–	195	OL24172713M
1897	Silver, Burdett and company	–	152	OL6957332M
1897	Leach, Shewell, & Sanborn	–	224	OL24174431M
1897	Houghton, Mifflin and company	–	110	OL23719471M
1896	Allyn and Bacon	–	110	OL32216633M
1896	Allyn and Bacon	–	110	OL6552542M
1896	Harper	–	262	OL15958897M
1896	J. M. Dent & sons, ld.	–	127	OL24128998M
1896	J.M. Dent	–	127	OL25261667M
1896	Allyn and Bacon	–	110	OL52617833M
1896	Longmans, Green	–	200	OL24172723M
1896	Longmans, Green	–	200	OL6552541M
1895	American book company	–	100	OL24819255M
1895	American book company	–	100	OL6639797M
1895	American book company	–	100	OL24733708M
1893	Harper	–	262	OL16516675M
1892	Harper	–	262	OL7237907M
1892	Harper and Brothers	–	262	OL57499118M
1890	Macmillan	–	184	OL15958736M
1890	H. Altemus	–	192	OL6412709M
1890	Harper	–	262	OL43766200M
1890	Printed at the "Nassau Steam Press"	–	74	OL45328474M
1889	S.R. Winchell & co.	–	237	OL24187104M
1889	Nassau Steam Press	–	72	OL14021213M
1889	K. Paul, Trench, & Co.	–	89	OL6637068M
1889	White and Allen	–	87	OL43323832M
1888	Nassau Steam Press	–	72	OL25907239M
1888	Printed at the "Nassau Steam Press"	–	72	OL16997213M
1884	Harper & brothers	–	260	OL53105516M
1880	Ginn & company	–	203	OL24188106M
1880	Harper & brothers, publishers, ...	–	260	OL24129012M
1878	Printed, for W.Winter, by F.Hart & company	–	104	OL6685530M
1877	Edmonston & company	–	72	OL6619230M
1877	Harper & brothers	–	260	OL24174452M
1876	–	–	107	OL17945351M
1874	Nokkrir menn	–	104	OL52990552M
1874	Clarendon Press	–	180	OL14021212M
1870	Longmans, Green	–	107	OL24433758M
1870	Longmans, Green	–	107	OL15958818M
1868	B. Tauchnitz	–	72	OL7101394M
1853	Printed by C. Muskett	–	107	OL6921073M
1853	J.K. Chapman	–	92	OL44948790M
1843	B. Tauchnitz, jun.	–	72	OL60742316M
1841	Schünemann	–	86	OL22408806M
1821	Simpkin	–	74	OL20841188M
1816	Printed for Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme and Brown	–	72	OL6765580M
1814	Printed for J. Miller	–	67	OL575763M
1807	Mathews and Leigh.	–	227	OL6657560M
1806	Printed for Longman, Hurst, Rees, and Orme ...	–	72	OL17113003M
1803	Printed for J. Ridgway ...	–	64	OL18383114M
1799	printed by Wilson, Spence and Mawman...	–	112	OL16256735M
1799	Printed by Wilson, Spence, and Mawman	–	112	OL25667441M
1794	Printed by C. Lowndes ... and sold in the Theatre	–	64	OL594772M
1785	Printed for C. Bathurst ... [and 27 others]	–	67	OL19262032M
1779	Printed by Andrew Foulis	–	82	OL20137800M
1778	Printed for John Bell ...	–	130	OL600478M
1776	printed for W. Bowen	–	68	OL16189610M
1773	Printed by W. Bowyer and J. Nichols, and sold by W. Owen, be	–	133	OL25666558M
1770	Printed for the proprietors; and sold by all the booksellers	–	68	OL53609262M
1770	For J. Rivington, W. Strahan (etc.)	–	68	OL20795410M
1765	Printed for J. and R. Tonson ... [and 10 others]	–	68	OL839916M
1755	Printed for J. and P. Knapton	–	68	OL25922468M
1750	Printed for J. and P. Knapton, S. Birt, T. Longman, H. Linto	–	68	OL55968498M
1674	Printed for P. Chetwin, and are to be sold by most bookselle	–	66	OL44940349M

More by William Shakespeare

All 23 books by William Shakespeare with page counts

Questions

How many pages is Macbeth?: About 140 pages: that is the median of 595 English-language print editions on Open Library. Editions range from 63 to 302 pages.
How long does it take to read Macbeth?: About 2 h 28 min at 260 words per minute, assuming 275 words per page. At 30 minutes a day that is 5 days.
How many words is Macbeth?: Roughly 38,000 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)).