Short answer
You can read any surah in taraweeh and the prayer is valid. In the Hanafi school, completing the whole Quran once over the month in taraweeh is sunnah, and the classical texts say it should not be dropped just because people want it short. Reciting more than once is extra virtue.
Taraweeh is valid with any recitation. Completing the Quran (khatm) once in taraweeh during Ramadan is sunnah, twice is more virtuous and three times is best. Al-Hidaya says the single khatm should not be abandoned for people's laziness, while later scholars advise the imam not to burden his congregation beyond what it can bear.
The four schools agree on this.
Explanation
Taraweeh is a prayer like any other: the Fatihah and whatever you recite after it make it valid. So if you pray at home and know only short surahs, your taraweeh is valid and rewarded. Many people recite the last ten surahs of the Quran in turn, or repeat the surahs they know.
The khatm. Jibril used to review the Quran with the Prophet ﷺ every Ramadan, and twice in the year he passed away. Following this, the Muslims completed the Quran in the night prayer of Ramadan. The Hanafi school holds that one complete recitation in taraweeh over the month is sunnah, and al-Hidaya says it should not be dropped because people are lazy. Later Hanafi scholars added that the imam should judge his congregation and not drive people away.
How long does taraweeh take? It depends on the masjid. A masjid that completes the Quran recites about one juz a night, so it takes longer than one that reads short surahs. At home you set your own pace. The Prophet ﷺ told imams to keep the prayer light, because behind them are the weak, the sick and the old, and said that when you pray alone you may lengthen it as you wish.
Tips:
- Recite with care and proper tajwid. Rushing so fast that words are lost is disliked.
- If you lead your family, choose what they can follow.
- Listening to the whole Quran in taraweeh is one of the best ways to complete it in Ramadan. See finishing the Quran in Ramadan.
The four schools agree that taraweeh is valid with any recitation and that completing the Quran in it is not an obligation.
The evidence
Quran, Surah Al-Muzzammil 73:20
۞ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ يَعْلَمُ أَنَّكَ تَقُومُ أَدْنَىٰ مِن ثُلُثَىِ ٱلَّيْلِ وَنِصْفَهُۥ وَثُلُثَهُۥ وَطَآئِفَةٌۭ مِّنَ ٱلَّذِينَ مَعَكَ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ يُقَدِّرُ ٱلَّيْلَ وَٱلنَّهَارَ ۚ عَلِمَ أَن لَّن تُحْصُوهُ فَتَابَ عَلَيْكُمْ ۖ فَٱقْرَءُوا۟ مَا تَيَسَّرَ مِنَ ٱلْقُرْءَانِ ۚ عَلِمَ أَن سَيَكُونُ مِنكُم مَّرْضَىٰ ۙ وَءَاخَرُونَ يَضْرِبُونَ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ يَبْتَغُونَ مِن فَضْلِ ٱللَّهِ ۙ وَءَاخَرُونَ يُقَٰتِلُونَ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ ۖ فَٱقْرَءُوا۟ مَا تَيَسَّرَ مِنْهُ ۚ وَأَقِيمُوا۟ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَءَاتُوا۟ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ وَأَقْرِضُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ قَرْضًا حَسَنًۭا ۚ وَمَا تُقَدِّمُوا۟ لِأَنفُسِكُم مِّنْ خَيْرٍۢ تَجِدُوهُ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ هُوَ خَيْرًۭا وَأَعْظَمَ أَجْرًۭا ۚ وَٱسْتَغْفِرُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ ۖ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورٌۭ رَّحِيمٌۢ ﴿٢٠﴾
Indeed, your Lord knows, [O Muhammad], that you stand [in prayer] almost two thirds of the night or half of it or a third of it, and [so do] a group of those with you. And Allah determines [the extent of] the night and the day. He has known that you [Muslims] will not be able to do it and has turned to you in forgiveness, so recite what is easy [for you] of the Qur'an. He has known that there will be among you those who are ill and others traveling throughout the land seeking [something] of the bounty of Allah and others fighting for the cause of Allah. So recite what is easy from it and establish prayer and give zakah and loan Allah a goodly loan. And whatever good you put forward for yourselves - you will find it with Allah. It is better and greater in reward. And seek forgiveness of Allah. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.
The night prayer is valid with whatever recitation is easy.
Sahih al-Bukhari 4998
Sahih... كان يعرض على النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم القرآن كل عام مرة ...
"The Quran was reviewed with the Prophet once every year."
The yearly review of the whole Quran in Ramadan is the root of the taraweeh khatm.
Sahih al-Bukhari 703
Sahih... إذا صلى أحدكم للناس فليخفف فإن منهم الضعيف والسقيم والكبير ...
"When one of you leads people in prayer, let him keep it light, for among them are the weak, the sick and the old."
An imam should consider his congregation.
Where the ruling is recorded
- al-Hidaya, Kitab al-Salah, section on the night prayer of Ramadan. The sunnah is to complete the Quran once in taraweeh, and it is not left because of people's laziness.
- Radd al-Muhtar (Ibn Abidin), Kitab al-Salah, chapter on witr and voluntary prayers, section on taraweeh. The levels of khatm, and the later advice to recite what does not drive the congregation away.
Checked by our team. For a more accurate answer to your own situation, consult a scholar. Quran translation by Sahih International. Hadith Arabic from the standard editions of the six books and the Muwatta, with gradings as recorded there; the English is our own rendering. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.