BookBingeThe Lord of the Rings Books in Order
The short answer
J.R.R. Tolkien · 3 books
- How many books?
- There are 3 books in The Lord of the Rings series, published 1954–1955.
- Is it finished?
- Yes — the series is complete; it ends with The Return of the King (1955).
- Where to start
- Start with The Fellowship of the Ring (1954).
About 1,400 pages — roughly 20 hours of reading
The Lord of the Rings is an epic high-fantasy novel by English author J.R.R. Tolkien.
Here is the complete The Lord of the Rings reading order — all 3 books by J.R.R. Tolkien, in the order you should read them:
Reading order
- The Fellowship of the RingOne Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them, One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them.1954492 pages
- The Two TowersFrodo and Sam continue their journey toward Mordor to destroy the One Ring while their companions face new challenges.1954432 pages
- The Return of the KingThe final volume in the trilogy brings the War of the Ring to its climax.1955495 pages
Good news: for this series, reading order and publication order are the same — just read straight down the list.
On our lists: Completed fantasy series · Completed fantasy trilogies
Track your place in The Lord of the Rings
BookBinge remembers which book you're on and writes a spoiler-safe recap before every sequel. Free on iOS.
Get BookBingeFrequently asked questions
How many Lord of the Rings books are there?
There are 3 books in The Lord of the Rings series by J.R.R. Tolkien, from The Fellowship of the Ring (1954) to The Return of the King (1955). Together they run to about 1,400 pages.
Is The Lord of the Rings series finished?
Yes. J.R.R. Tolkien completed the series with The Return of the King in 1955; all 3 books are out now.
What is the first Lord of the Rings book?
The Fellowship of the Ring (1954) is book one, at 492 pages. One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them, One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them.
Should I read The Lord of the Rings series in publication order?
Yes. For The Lord of the Rings series, reading order and publication order are the same — The Fellowship of the Ring (1954) through The Return of the King (1955).
How long does it take to read all Lord of the Rings books?
About 1,400 pages across 3 books — roughly 20 hours at a page a minute. The longest is The Return of the King (495 pages); the shortest is The Two Towers (432 pages).