The conversion table
Estimates below use the standard assumption of a 12-point font (such as Times New Roman or Arial), 1-inch margins, and a normal page. Single-spaced fits about twice as many words per page as double-spaced.
| Word count | Single-spaced | Double-spaced |
|---|---|---|
| 250 words | ½ page | 1 page |
| 500 words | 1 page | 2 pages |
| 750 words | 1½ pages | 3 pages |
| 1,000 words | 2 pages | 4 pages |
| 1,500 words | 3 pages | 6 pages |
| 2,000 words | 4 pages | 8 pages |
| 2,500 words | 5 pages | 10 pages |
| 3,000 words | 6 pages | 12 pages |
| 4,000 words | 8 pages | 16 pages |
| 5,000 words | 10 pages | 20 pages |
| 7,500 words | 15 pages | 30 pages |
| 10,000 words | 20 pages | 40 pages |
| 20,000 words | 40 pages | 80 pages |
| 50,000 words | 100 pages | 200 pages |
| 80,000 words | 160 pages | 320 pages |
| 100,000 words | 200 pages | 400 pages |
The rule of thumb
If you just need a number in your head, use these:
- Single-spaced: about 500 words per page.
- Double-spaced: about 250 words per page.
To go from words to pages, divide your word count by 500 (single) or 250 (double). To go the other way, from pages to words, multiply the page count by the same numbers. So 6 double-spaced pages is roughly 1,500 words.
What changes the page count
The conversion is an estimate because page length is not fixed. The main factors:
- Spacing. The biggest one. Double spacing roughly doubles your page count versus single.
- Font and size. A 12-point Times New Roman runs shorter than a 12-point Arial or Verdana, which are wider. Bumping to 14-point adds pages.
- Margins. Wider margins mean fewer words per line and more pages.
- Paragraphs and dialogue. Lots of short paragraphs or dialogue leaves more white space, so the same word count fills more pages.
A note on manuscript pages
In publishing, a "manuscript page" traditionally counts at about 250 words, double-spaced, which is why a 100,000-word novel is often described as roughly 400 manuscript pages. Printed book pages are different again, usually closer to 250 to 300 words per page depending on trim size and typesetting. If you are planning a book by length, the genre ranges in how many words is a novel and genre word counts are more useful than raw pages.
Count your words first
All of this assumes you know your word count. If you are pasting from somewhere or checking a draft, the free word counter gives you the number instantly. The words-per-page calculator turns it into pages for your exact font and spacing. To track that count day by day toward a finish date, Authorlytica does exactly that.