A standard page holds about 500 words single-spaced, or about 250 double-spaced — and this words-per-page chart shows how font, size and spacing move that number, plus how to count your own document exactly. The chart covers how many words per page double spaced as well as single-spaced, across the fonts and sizes people actually use — so you can work out, for example, how many pages is 500 words in your own setup.
All figures below are estimates for a full page of solid text — no headings, images or half-empty final paragraphs. Real documents land close to these numbers, not exactly on them.
Try it now: Word Counter — paste your text, see the word count, reading time and page estimate. Free, no sign-up, runs in your browser.
The words-per-page chart
Times New Roman, 12 pt, one-inch margins (the classic school and manuscript setup):
| Line spacing | Words per page |
|---|---|
| Single | ≈ 500 |
| 1.5 lines | ≈ 350 |
| Double | ≈ 250 |
Other common setups, single-spaced:
| Font and size | Words per page |
|---|---|
| Arial, 12 pt | ≈ 450 |
| Calibri, 11 pt (Word’s default) | ≈ 500 |
| Verdana, 12 pt | ≈ 400 |
| Georgia, 12 pt | ≈ 450 |
Arial and Verdana are wider faces than Times New Roman, so fewer words fit per line and per page at the same point size. Calibri at 11 pt is compact, which is why Word documents so often land near the classic 500 even though the font is smaller.
Font size matters more than most people expect (Times New Roman, single-spaced):
| Font size | Words per page |
|---|---|
| 10 pt | ≈ 650 |
| 11 pt | ≈ 575 |
| 12 pt | ≈ 500 |
| 13 pt | ≈ 450 |
| 14 pt | ≈ 400 |
Two points up or down changes a page by roughly a fifth. This is also why “just make the font bigger” fools nobody: a teacher who has read ten thousand essays can feel a 14-point page in their hands.
Common targets, translated into pages
Working from the standard 500 / 250 figures (single-spaced / double-spaced, 12 pt):
| 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 |
| 5,000 words | 10 pages | 20 pages |
So a “five-page essay, double-spaced” is a request for roughly 1,250 words, and a 500-word assignment is one page single-spaced or two pages double-spaced. When an instructor gives both a word count and a page count, trust the word count — it is the one that can’t be gamed by formatting.
Why your page holds more — or fewer — words
- Margins. Narrower margins than the one-inch standard stretch every line. Half-inch margins can add 15–20% more words per page.
- Headings, lists and white space. Every heading, bullet list, block quote and paragraph break eats lines that words would otherwise fill. Dialogue-heavy writing (many short lines) packs far fewer words per page than dense prose.
- Paragraph spacing. “Add space after paragraphs” settings — Word’s modern default — quietly consume the equivalent of several lines per page.
- Paper size. A4 is slightly taller and narrower than US Letter; the difference is a few percent and the chart above holds for both.
- The last page. Averages describe full pages. A 1,300-word document makes three double-spaced pages even though the arithmetic says 5.2 pages “should” hold it — partial pages still count as pages when someone asks how long your document is.
Words on a page vs words in a book
Printed books are a different format entirely. A typical novel page — smaller trim size, generous margins, book typeface — carries about 250–300 words. That is why a 90,000-word novel, which would be 180 single-spaced A4 pages, becomes a 300-plus-page book. If you are estimating a book’s length from a manuscript, use 275 words per printed page as your working figure.
And if it’s a speech?
Page counts mislead for spoken text, because what matters is time. As a working rule, people speak at roughly 130–150 words per minute, so a ten-minute talk is about 1,300–1,500 words — around three single-spaced pages. If your real question is “how long will this take to say?”, a reading time calculator will time your actual text at slow, average and fast speaking speeds instead of a generic estimate.
How to count the words in your own document exactly
Estimates are for planning; when a limit is real, count the actual words:
- Microsoft Word: the running count sits in the status bar at the bottom left. Click it (or use Review → Word Count) for the full breakdown, including whether textboxes and footnotes are included.
- Google Docs: Tools → Word count, or tick “Display word count while typing” to keep it visible.
- Anything else — a PDF, a web form, text from an email: copy the text and paste it into a word counter. You’ll get words, characters, sentences and reading time at once, counted live as you edit, entirely in your browser.
Try it yourself: Word Counter
Words Per Page FAQs
How many words is a two-page essay, double-spaced?
About 500 words. Double-spaced 12-point text fits roughly 250 words per page, so two pages ≈ 500 words, three pages ≈ 750, and a five-page essay ≈ 1,250 words.
Does the words-per-page count include headings and references?
The chart assumes a full page of body text. Headings, blank lines and a works-cited page all reduce the real number, which is one more reason teachers who mean it specify a word count. When you count your own document, use the tool’s total and check whether it includes footnotes or endnotes if those matter for your requirement.
How many words are on a page of a novel or printed book?
Roughly 250–300 words, depending on the book’s trim size and typesetting. Mass-market paperbacks sit at the lower end; large-format hardcovers at the higher end.
Is an A4 page different from a US Letter page?
Barely, for word counts. A4 is a little taller and a little narrower; with the same font and margins the two hold within a few percent of each other, so the chart on this page is a safe estimate for either.