Average words per page
The number of words per page depends on three main factors: font size, line spacing, and page margins. But for most standard academic or professional writing, here's a quick reference:
| Format | Words per page |
|---|---|
| Double-spaced, 12pt Times New Roman | ~250 words |
| Double-spaced, 12pt Arial | ~240 words |
| Single-spaced, 12pt Times New Roman | ~500 words |
| Single-spaced, 10pt font | ~700 words |
| Novel (trade paperback) | ~250 – 300 words |
Standard academic paper
Most college essays use these settings:
- Font: Times New Roman or Arial, 12pt
- Line spacing: Double-spaced
- Margins: 1 inch on all sides
At these settings, the average is around 250–275 words per page.
So a 1,000-word essay = approximately 4 pages double-spaced.
Words per page by page count
Need to know the reverse? Here's a quick lookup for standard double-spaced 12pt:
| Pages | Approximate word count |
|---|---|
| 1 page | ~250 words |
| 2 pages | ~500 words |
| 3 pages | ~750 words |
| 5 pages | ~1,250 words |
| 10 pages | ~2,500 words |
| 20 pages | ~5,000 words |
Impact of font and spacing
Font size
Larger fonts = fewer words per page. 14pt font holds roughly 200 words per double-spaced page, while 10pt can fit 350+ words.
Line spacing
- Double spacing (most academic): ~250 words/page
- 1.5 spacing: ~350 words/page
- Single spacing: ~500 words/page
Margins
Standard 1-inch margins give you the most "standard" look. Wider margins reduce your word count per page; narrower margins increase it.
Words per page in books
Published novels and nonfiction books use a different layout — they're typically set in 10pt or 11pt font with custom line spacing.
A typical trade paperback page holds 250 – 300 words. This is why publishers commonly use a word count of 80,000–90,000 for a full-length novel (roughly 300–360 pages).
How to count your words
Instead of manually counting or estimating based on pages, use a dedicated word counting tool. It gives you an instant, accurate count along with character count, reading time, and more.
Check your word count in seconds with our word counter tool.
Common questions
How many words is a 5-page paper?
At standard academic double-spacing (12pt): approximately 1,250 words.
Is 500 words one page?
Yes — one page single-spaced at 12pt is approximately 500 words. At double-spacing, 500 words fills about 2 pages.
How many pages is 1,500 words?
At standard double-spacing: 6 pages.
Does word count include headers and footnotes?
Typically, headers are not counted in word count tools, but footnotes may or may not be depending on the settings. Check your assignment requirements.