This list was last updated: January 2026
Reading through the Bible is easier when you have a plan that fits your schedule and the way you like to read. This guide shares free printable PDF Bible reading plans and online options, including chronological, genre-rotating, and gentle-pace plans. You’ll also find simple questions to help you choose a realistic plan you can stick with so you can enjoy Scripture with more clarity and consistency.
Whether you want to read the Bible cover to cover or sample different sections, there’s a plan that can meet you right where you are.
What Bible Reading Plan Fits You?
Before jumping into the list, take a moment to think about how you like to read and what helps you stay consistent. Here are a few quick questions to guide you:
- Do you prefer digital or paper? Some plans are interactive and track your progress online. Others are print-and-go for those who like marking check boxes with a pen.
- Do you want to read the whole Bible or the New Testament first? Both are great options. Don’t feel pressured to do it all at once if you’re just starting out.
- Are you looking for daily structure or weekly flexibility? Some plans include readings for every single day. Others leave space for rest, catch-up, or deeper study.
- Do you enjoy chronological order or a mix of genres? Chronological plans follow the Bible’s historical timeline. Others alternate between Old and New Testament, Psalms and Prophets.
- Do I get bored reading in one genre for too long? Some plans rotate genres (law, history, Psalms, Gospels, and so on) to keep your daily reading varied.
- Do I want chronological order or canonical order? Chronological plans help you follow the story as events happened. Straight-through plans are simple: Genesis to Revelation.
Whatever your preferences, the key is to pick something realistic, not something that will wear you out by February.
🖨️Printable Bible Reading Plans
Prefer something you can print and tuck into your Bible? These one-page plans give you a visual overview of your reading journey. Great for marking your progress and taking notes along the way.
Genre Rotating Bible Reading Plans (good if you want variety)
Read through the Bible in a year with each day of the week dedicated to a different genre: epistles, the law, history, Psalms, poetry, prophecy, and Gospels. If you tend to stall out in tougher sections, this genre-rotation approach can keep you moving
Discipleship Journal Book at a time Reading Plan
Four daily readings beginning in Genesis, Psalms, Matthew and Acts. This is another “variety” plan, and it keeps you in multiple places in Scripture each day.
Four daily readings taken from four lists: Psalms and wisdom literature, Pentateuch and history of Israel, Chronicles and prophets, and Gospels and epistles. If you like a steady rhythm and broad exposure, this is a strong option.
Gentile Paced Bible Reading Plans (good if you’re building the habit)
Navigators New Testament Reading Plan M-F
Read through the New Testament in a year, reading Monday to Friday. Weekends are set aside for reflection and other reading. This is especially beneficial if you’re new to a daily discipline of Bible reading.
Every Word in the Bible 3-year Plan
Read through the Bible one chapter at a time. Readings alternate between the Old and New Testaments. If a one-year plan feels like too much right now, this is a realistic way to keep moving forward.
Five-Year Bible Plan for Teens
A chronological plan designed for teens: one chapter a day, five days a week, finishing in about five years. (Honestly, this pace works for plenty of adults, too.)
Chronological Bible Reading Plans (good if you want the story flow)
Chronological Bible Reading Plan
Read through the Bible in the order the events occurred chronologically. This can be especially helpful if you want to see how the storyline fits together.
The Old Testament readings are similar to Israel’s Hebrew Bible, and the New Testament readings are an attempt to follow the order in which the books were authored. If you like thinking historically, you may enjoy this approach.
Simple, Linear Bible Reading Plans (good if you hate juggling)
Straight Through the Bible Reading Plan
Read straight through the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. Simple, clean, and easy to understand.
Bible Reading Plans with Specific Goals
Robert Murray M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan
Read the New Testament and Psalms twice and the Old Testament once. This is a classic plan for a reason.
Tabletalk 1-Year Bible Reading Plan
Two readings each day, one from the Old Testament and one from the New Testament. Straightforward and steady.
Tabletalk 2-Year Bible Reading Plan
Read the Old and New Testaments once and Psalms and Proverbs four times. A slower pace with a lot of repetition in wisdom literature.
No set readings for each day. Instead, it has set books for each month and a set number of Proverbs and Psalms for each week. It aims to give you flexibility while grounding you in specific books of the Bible. If rigid daily assignments make you quit, this one is worth a look.
The F-260 is a two hundred and sixty day reading plan that highlights the foundational passages of Scripture that every disciple should know. This is a great option if you want a focused sweep through the essentials.
Professor Horner’s Bible Reading System
This one is intense: ten chapters a day, with repeated exposure to key sections (Gospels, Paul’s letters, Psalms, Proverbs, and more). Some people love the immersion. Others find it too much. Know yourself before you choose it
Read through the Bible at your own pace. Use this minimalist chart to track your reading throughout the year. If your schedule is unpredictable, a chart can be a lifeline.
📱Online Bible Reading Plans
These plans live online and can be accessed from your phone, tablet, or computer. Some even let you check off what you’ve read and offer email reminders or app tracking.
If you want a straightforward “Bible in a year” plan
If you like checking off boxes and getting reminders, this one’s for you. Available through the free YouVersion app, these plans are mobile-friendly and easy to follow. Choose from hundreds of options, from one-year overviews to shorter topical studies.
Simple, no-frills plans for readers who just want Scripture without distractions. Blue Letter Bible offers printable and online options that stay close to the biblical text.
If you want to set your own schedule
If you already know your pace (or you need to build in buffer days), this tool lets you create your own reading plan.
Bible Overviews
Want to understand what you’re reading. Consider reading an overview of the Bible alongside your plan. Overviews can help you see where a book fits, why it matters, and what the main themes are.
A Simple overview of biblical history
Ray Stedman’s Adventuring through the Bible
RC Sproul’s Overview of the Bible
FAQs
What is the best Bible reading plan for beginners?
Start with something that builds the habit without crushing you. Two good on-ramps from this page are the Navigators New Testament Reading Plan (M–F) (weekends off) or the Bible Reading Chart (self-paced, no dates). Both lower the pressure and make it easier to keep going.
Should I read the Bible straight through or chronologically?
Both can be helpful, and it depends on what you want. Straight through (Genesis to Revelation) is simple and predictable. Chronological can make the story flow easier to follow because events are arranged in the order they happened. If you are not already familiar with the story of biblical history, try chronological. If you want the simplest approach, go straight through.
I want to follow the Bible’s story in order. Which plan fits that?
Choose the Chronological Bible Reading Plan. It’s designed to read the Bible in the order the events occurred. If you enjoy the “storyline” approach, chronological reading can make connections easier to see.
What if I fall behind?
Don’t restart. That is the fastest way to quit. Just pick up with today’s reading, or use the next few days to catch up slowly. You are not trying to “win” Bible reading. You are building a habit of listening to God’s Word. If you need a “no guilt” option while you catch up, switch temporarily to the Bible Reading Chart or a Monday-to-Friday plan until you find your rhythm again.
How much should I read each day?
Most one-year plans land somewhere around 15 to 20 minutes a day, depending on reading speed and the day’s passages. If that feels like too much right now, choose a slower plan (two- or three-year), or a plan that reads five days a week instead of seven.
Do I have to start on January 1?
No. You can start today. If your plan has dates, just begin where you are and keep going. If you prefer not to deal with dates at all, use a checklist-style chart and read at your own pace.
Is it okay to skip weekends or take days off?
Yes. In fact, some plans are built that way. A Monday-to-Friday plan gives you room for reflection, catching up, or listening to a teaching podcast that helps you understand what you read.
What Bible translation should I use?
Use a translation you can understand and will actually read. If you’re not sure where to start, a reliable, readable translation like the ESV, is a good choice. If you are brand new, I suggest avoiding paraphrases at first, because they can blur the content you are trying to learn.
What if I do not understand what I’m reading?
That’s normal, especially in the beginning. Keep going, and add one simple support:
- Read a short Bible overview alongside your plan.
- Use a study Bible introduction for the book you’re reading.
- Listen to a verse-by-verse teaching on the same passage.
Understanding grows over time, and it grows faster when you stay with it.
I want to read the whole Bible, but I get bored easily. What’s the best option here?
Pick a plan that rotates genres so you’re not stuck in one kind of writing for weeks. The 52 Week Bible Reading Plan assigns different genres to different days of the week. The ESV Daily Bible Reading Plan also keeps you in four different streams (Psalms/wisdom, Pentateuch/history, prophets, Gospels/epistles).
I’m reading, but I don’t understand what I’m reading. What should I do?
Add an overview alongside your plan. This page links several good ones, including A Simple overview of biblical history, Ray Stedman’s Adventuring through the Bible, and RC Sproul’s Overview of the Bible. Overviews give you the big picture so the details have somewhere to “land.”
Can I use a reading plan with kids or a family?
Yes, but keep the pace realistic. A slower plan (two-, three-, or five-year) often works better for families. The goal is to create a steady rhythm and good conversations, not to power through chapters.
I want something simple. No juggling. Just read straight through. What do you recommend?
Go with Straight Through the Bible Reading Plan (Genesis to Revelation). It’s the most straightforward option on the list.
I like the idea of reading whole books, not hopping around. Is there a plan for that?
Yes. Try the Discipleship Journal Book-at-a-Time Reading Plan. It has two readings a day (Old Testament and New Testament), and you complete an entire book in each testament before moving on.
I want variety every day. Which plan gives me that?
The Discipleship Journal Bible Reading Plan gives four readings a day beginning in Genesis, Psalms, Matthew, and Acts. That variety is helpful if you stay engaged better when you’re in multiple places each day.
I want a slower pace than “Bible in a year.” What should I pick?
Three solid options here are Every Word in the Bible (3-year plan) (one chapter at a time, alternating Old and New Testaments) or the Tabletalk 2-Year Bible Reading Plan (slower pace with repeated exposure to Psalms and Proverbs) or Five-Year Plan for Teens (it works for adults, too).
My schedule is unpredictable. I need maximum flexibility.
Use the Bible Reading Chart (self-paced) or the Legacy Reading Plan (books by month with weekly Psalms and Proverbs, but no rigid daily assignments). If you want digital flexibility, the Bible Reading Plan Generator also lets you set yo
I want “high exposure” and I’m willing to read a lot. What’s the most intense plan on the page?
That would be Professor Horner’s Bible Reading System (ten chapters a day with repeated readings in key sections). This is for readers who thrive on volume and repetition.
I don’t think I can read the whole Bible yet. Is there a plan that focuses on the essentials?
Yes. The 260 Bible Reading Plan (F-260) highlights foundational passages “every disciple should know.” It’s a good choice if you want a guided sweep through the big themes without reading every chapter right away.
Still Looking?
No problem. Sometimes the hardest part is not reading, it’s finding a plan that fits the way your brain works and the way your weeks actually go. If you want to browse a bigger library of plans, these sites are great places to explore:
Photo taken by Brett Jordan and used here under Flickr Creative Commons.
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