Audiobook Speed Calculator

When you have a 12-hour audiobook and typically listen at 1.5x speed, the audiobook speed calculator show that you’ll complete it in 8 hours instead.

A person has a 15-hour autobiography she wants to finish before her book club meeting next week. Using this audiobook speed calculator, she discovers that listening at 1.75x speed will allow her to complete it in approximately 8.57 hours, making it manageable within her available time.

Audiobook Speed Calculation Formula

The formula for calculating audiobook speed is:

Adjusted Listening Time = Original Duration ÷ Playback Speed

You have a historical biography that’s 20 hours long, and you want to listen at 1.8x speed. 20 hours ÷ 1.8 = 11.11 hours

For more precise calculations involving minutes:

Adjusted Minutes = (Total Original Minutes) ÷ Playback Speed

How to Calculate Audiobook Speed?

The process involves three key steps:

• Convert the original duration to a single unit (preferably hours or minutes)
• Determine your preferred playback speed (common ranges are 1x to 3x)
• Apply the formula: Adjusted Listening Time = Original Duration ÷ Playback Speed

Calculating a 7.5-hour memoir at 2.25x speed:

• Original duration: 7.5 hours (450 minutes)
• Playback speed: 2.25x
• Calculation: 450 ÷ 2.25 = 200 minutes (or 3.33 hours)

Long Novel Scenario: A 24-hour fantasy novel played at 2x speed

Original duration: 24 hours

Playback speed: 2x

Adjusted listening time: 12 hours

Short Story Collection: A 6-hour anthology played at 1.25x speed

Original duration: 6 hours

Playback speed: 1.25x

Adjusted listening time: 4.8 hours

Academic Textbook: An 18-hour textbook played at 1.5x speed

Original duration: 18 hours

Playback speed: 1.5x

Adjusted listening time: 12 hours

Self-Help Book: A 10-hour book played at 1.75x speed

Original duration: 10 hours

Playback speed: 1.75x

Adjusted listening time: 5.71 hours

Business Book: An 8-hour book played at 2.5x speed

Original duration: 8 hours

Playback speed: 2.5x

Adjusted listening time: 3.2 hours

What is Audiobook Speed?

Audiobook speed refers to the rate at which the narration is played back relative to its original recording pace. A speed of 1x represents the natural recording speed, while higher values like 1.5x or 2x indicate faster playback. Modern audiobook players typically offer speed adjustments in 0.1x increments, allowing listeners to find their optimal listening pace while maintaining comprehensible narration.