How many words are in The Hobbit?
by J.R.R. Tolkien · 1937 · Fantasy
95,356
Word count
6 hr 41 min
Reading time
382
Est. pages
1937
Published
The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien is approximately 95,356 wordslong. At an average reading speed of 238 words per minute, that's about 6 hr 41 min of reading spread across several sittings. First published in 1937, it sits in the Fantasy category.
Typical fantasy novels run 70,000–150,000 words, with a sweet spot around 90,000–120,000. At 95,356 words, The Hobbit sits comfortably within the standard range for the genre.
Source: Tolkien Gateway, cross-referenced with HarperCollins standard edition · referenceVerified 2026-04-20
Fantasy novels of similar length
| Title | Author | Word count |
|---|---|---|
| Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone | J.K. Rowling | 76,944 |
| A Wizard of Earthsea | Ursula K. Le Guin | 56,533 |
| The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe | C.S. Lewis | 38,421 |
| Eragon | Christopher Paolini | 157,220 |
| The Fellowship of the Ring | J.R.R. Tolkien | 187,790 |
| Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix | J.K. Rowling | 257,045 |