How Many Harry Potter Books Are There?
7 main novels, published 1997–2007 by J.K. Rowling.
Plus: 3 companion books, 1 stage play script (Cursed Child), and the Fantastic Beasts screenplay series. The 7 core novels are the series — everything else is supplementary.
All 7 Harry Potter Novels — In Order
| # | Title | Published | Pages (UK ed.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone | 1997 | 223 |
| 2 | Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets | 1998 | 251 |
| 3 | Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban | 1999 | 317 |
| 4 | Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire | 2000 | 636 |
| 5 | Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix | 2003 | 766 |
| 6 | Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince | 2005 | 607 |
| 7 | Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows | 2007 | 607 |
US vs UK titles: Book 1 is Philosopher's Stone in the UK/everywhere else and Sorcerer's Stone in the US. The story is identical; only the title and a handful of word substitutions differ.
The Companion Books
Three short companion books were published as charity fundraisers and in-world texts. They expand Wizarding World lore but are not part of the main narrative:
| Title | Published | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them | 2001 | In-world textbook; Newt Scamander's field guide |
| Quidditch Through the Ages | 2001 | In-world history of Quidditch |
| The Tales of Beedle the Bard | 2008 | Wizarding fairy tales; includes "The Three Brothers" from Deathly Hallows |
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
Published in 2016, The Cursed Child is a stage play script — not a novel by Rowling. Written by Jack Thorne from a story co-created with Rowling and director John Tiffany, it follows Harry's son Albus at Hogwarts. It is considered official canon but divides opinion: the script format is thin compared to the novels, and fans disagree on the story's quality. Read it after Deathly Hallows if curious; it is not required reading.
Fantastic Beasts Screenplays
Rowling wrote the screenplays for the Fantastic Beasts film series, published as illustrated screenplay books. Three of the planned five have been released:
| Title | Film release |
|---|---|
| Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them | 2016 |
| Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald | 2018 |
| Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore | 2022 |
| Fantastic Beasts 4 (untitled) | TBD |
| Fantastic Beasts 5 (untitled) | TBD |
Note: The Fantastic Beasts film series was put on indefinite hold after the third instalment underperformed commercially. Books 4 and 5 have no confirmed production timeline as of 2026.
Illustrated Editions
Jim Kay's illustrated editions of the main novels have been published one by one since 2015, with full-colour artwork throughout. Books 1–6 are available as of 2026; Book 7 is pending. These are the same text as the originals — collector and gift editions, not new content.
What About the HBO Series?
A new Harry Potter TV series (HBO Max) is in development, adapting each of the 7 novels as a separate season. No novelisations or new books tied to the series have been announced. The 7 original novels remain the definitive text.
FAQs
Do you need to read Harry Potter in order?
Yes — the 7 main novels must be read in publication order. Each book directly continues from the last; starting anywhere other than Book 1 will spoil major plot points. See our full reading order guide for details.
How long does it take to read all 7 Harry Potter books?
At an average reading pace (~300 words per minute), the 7 novels total roughly 1,084,170 words — approximately 60 hours of reading. Most readers spread this over several months, though many report bingeing the series in a few weeks.
Will J.K. Rowling write more Harry Potter books?
Rowling has not announced any new Harry Potter novels. The Ickabog (2020) and The Christmas Pig (2021) are standalone children's books, not set in the Wizarding World. The HBO series is a TV adaptation, not a new book project.
What age is Harry Potter suitable for?
The series famously grows with its readers. Books 1–3 are suitable from around age 8–9. Books 4–5 introduce darker themes around age 10–12. Books 6–7 are genuinely dark and suit ages 12+. Adults reading for the first time can start at any age.