Time use · 2025
Reading for leisure
Americans spend an average of 16 min per day on reading for leisure (2025). 16% do it on a given day; among those who do, it averages 1 hr 40 min.
16 min
Avg per day (everyone)
16%
Did it on a given day
1 hr 40 min
Per day (among doers)
Reading for leisure by sex
Male14 min
Female18 min
Reading for leisure by age
15–2410 min
25–3410 min
35–4413 min
45–5413 min
55–6413 min
65+32 min
Reading for leisure by education
Less than high school6 min
High school10 min
Some college18 min
Bachelor's degree21 min
Graduate degree26 min
Reading for leisure by employment
Employed11 min
Unemployed12 min
Not in labor force26 min
Reading for leisure — FAQ
How much time do Americans spend on reading for leisure?+
On an average day in 2025, Americans spent 16 min on reading for leisure, per the BLS American Time Use Survey. 16% did it on a given day; among those who did, it averaged 1 hr 40 min.
Do men or women spend more time on reading for leisure?+
Men: 14 min/day; women: 18 min/day (average over everyone, 2025).
Where does this come from?+
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics American Time Use Survey (2025) — a national, weighted survey of how people spend a 24-hour day. PUMSdata is independent and not affiliated with BLS.