Flowers for Algernon by the numbers
Daniel Keyes · first published 1966 · dataset 2026-10-24
Who it is not for: readers below 11th grade: no school list in our data assigns it earlier.
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Length and reading time
| Pages (dataset edition) | 311 |
|---|---|
| Estimated words | 86,000 |
| Reading time, 300 wpm (fast) | 4 h 45 min |
| Reading time, 250 wpm (average adult) | 5 h 42 min |
| Reading time, 200 wpm (careful / younger reader) | 7 h 8 min |
| Days at 20 minutes a day | 18 |
| Lexile measure | 910L |
At 311 pages, Flowers for Algernon is longer than 80.7% of the 2,330 books on the reading lists we track whose page count we know (2,809 books are tracked in all). It is longer than the median book listed for grades 9-12 (273 pages).
Flowers for Algernon is 311 pages; the median book listed for grades 9-12 is 273 pages and the median of all 2,330 listed books with a page count is 187.
Source: Page counts of 2,330 books on U.S. school reading lists, bookstatistics.com · Dataset snapshot 2026-10-24
Show the numbers
| Book | Pages |
|---|---|
| Flowers for Algernon | 311 pages |
| Median book listed for grades 9-12 | 273 pages |
| Median of all listed books | 187 pages |
Word counts and reading times are estimates: pages × 275 words, divided by the reading speed. Your edition's page count and your own pace will differ.
Where Flowers for Algernon is on school reading lists
2 appearances (0.0% of all 20,804 listings in the dataset), drawn from 1 published list, in grades 11th–12th. 2 of the 2 carry a link to the published source document.
| Grade | Listings |
|---|---|
| 11th | 1 |
| 12th | 1 |
Sources
- AP Lit representative text · checked 2026-06-16
Questions
How many pages is Flowers for Algernon?
Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes is 311 pages in the edition recorded in our dataset. Page counts vary by edition and format; at about 275 words per page that is roughly 86,000 words. See how long assigned books are, grade by grade.
How long does it take to read Flowers for Algernon?
About 5 h 42 min at an average adult pace of 250 words per minute (4 h 45 min at 300 wpm, 7 h 8 min at 200 wpm). At 20 minutes a day that is about 18 days. Compare a book of about the same length: The Graveyard Book.
Is Flowers for Algernon on school reading lists?
Yes. It appears 2 times on the U.S. school reading lists, award lists and curricula in our dataset, in one national curriculum (no single state), most often in grades 9-12. That ranks it #2,667 of 2,809 listed books. See the most assigned books, ranked.
When was Flowers for Algernon first published?
Flowers for Algernon was first published in 1966, 60 years ago. See how old assigned books are, decade by decade.
Related
- Flowers for Algernon: reading level, grades and similar booksOn ReadingList, our sister site for school reading lists.
- Books of about the same lengthThe Graveyard Book (312 pp.) · Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (309 pp.) · The Fault in Our Stars (313 pp.) · The War That Saved My Life (316 pp.)
- The most assigned books, rankedAll 2,809 listed books start here.
- Book length statisticsHow long assigned books are, by grade.
Cite this page
<a href="https://bookstatistics.com/books/flowers-for-algernon/">Flowers for Algernon statistics</a>. Book Statistics, a Figures Bureau site. [Flowers for Algernon statistics](https://bookstatistics.com/books/flowers-for-algernon/). Book Statistics, a Figures Bureau site. [url=https://bookstatistics.com/books/flowers-for-algernon/]Flowers for Algernon statistics[/url]. Book Statistics, a Figures Bureau site.