Words Per Page Calculator
Convert between word count and page count for any font, size, and spacing setup. Useful for essay sizing and manuscript pacing.
What this calculates
Word count and page count don't have a fixed relationship — it depends on font, size, spacing, and margins. This calculator gives a useful estimate so you can answer 'how many pages is 2,000 words?' or 'how many words fit on a 5-page essay?' in common setups.
Formula & how it works
Standard MS-Word page (Times New Roman 12 pt, 1-inch margins): single-spaced ≈ 500 words, double-spaced ≈ 250, 1.5-spaced ≈ 330. Arial 11 pt single ≈ 470. Manuscript industry standard (Courier 12 pt double): 250 words/page. Most academic essays double-spaced 250-300/page.
Worked example
A 2,500-word college essay double-spaced 12 pt Times: ~10 pages. Same essay single-spaced: ~5 pages. A 80,000-word novel manuscript (Courier 12, double): 320 pages. Same novel in published trade paperback typeset: ~280 pages.
Frequently asked questions
Which font should I use?
Academic: Times New Roman 12 pt double-spaced is most expected. Some professors prefer Garamond, Bookman. Manuscript submission: Courier 12 pt or Times 12 pt double, depending on agent/publisher guidelines.
Are formatting hacks worth it?
Don't widen margins or upsize font to inflate page count — graders notice. Better to write more substantively. The opposite (shrinking to fit a limit) is more accepted but still risky if grader notices.
How long is a novel?
Adult fiction: 80-100K. YA: 50-80K. Middle grade: 30-50K. Picture book: 500-1,000. Genres vary — fantasy and historical can hit 150K, romance can be 50-80K. Check market guidelines.
Reading vs writing pace?
Most people write 250-500 words per hour of focused work (drafting). Reading: 240 WPM = 14,400 per hour. So a 2,500-word essay takes ~5-10 hours to write but ~10-15 minutes to read.