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Word count to pages calculator

See how many pages your words fill, in a printed book or a Word document.

Count pages for

Estimated at 332 from your settings. Type your own rate to override it.

Estimated printed pages274
Words per page
332
Story pages
241
Chapter and matter pages
32
KDP spine, cream
0.685 in
    Drawn to scale: 6 x 9 in, 37 lines of 11 pt GaramondText area
    Size the cover for 274 pages

    Rather have a pro handle this? Our studio can: interior formatting and typesetting.

    How to use it

    1. Choose Printed book or Word or Docs.
    2. Enter your word count. Your word processor shows it in the status bar or under Tools.
    3. For a book, pick the trim size, font, size and line spacing you plan to use, and your chapter count.
    4. If you know your real words per page from a sample chapter, type it in to override the estimate.
    5. Take the page count to the cover calculator to size your spine and full cover.

    How it works

    The calculator lays out one page the way a typesetter would. It works out how many lines fit in the text area and how many words fit on each line, then allows for paragraph ends, indents and dialogue.

    Lines per page = text area height / (font size x line spacing)
    Words per line = text area width / average letter width / 5.9 characters per word
    Words per page = lines x words per line x 70% fill
    Book pages = words / words per page + chapter openings + front and back matter, rounded up to even

    Worked example: 80,000 words in a 6 x 9 in paperback, 11 pt Garamond at 1.3 line spacing. The text area is about 4.63 x 7.50 in, which holds 37 lines of about 12.8 words. At 70% fill that is 332 words per page, so 241 pages of story. 25 chapters add 20 pages, front and back matter add 12, and the total rounds up to an even 274 pages.

    Book margins are 0.75 in top and bottom and 0.625 in outside. The inside margin is KDP's minimum gutter for your page count plus 0.25 in, so it grows as the book gets thicker: 0.625 in at 100 pages, 0.875 in at 400. Each chapter adds about 0.8 of a page for its opening and its short last page. Documents use 1 in margins on every side, the Word and Google Docs default.

    Reference

    Estimated pages by word count. Books use 11 pt Garamond at 1.3 spacing, 25 chapters and 12 pages of front and back matter. Documents use 12 pt Times New Roman on US Letter with 1 in margins. A 6 x 9 in book at 274 pages has a 0.685 in KDP spine on cream paper.

    Format50k words70k words80k words90k words100k words120k words
    Paperback, 5 x 8 in256356402448494604
    Paperback, 5.5 x 8.5 in212282328364400474
    Paperback, 6 x 9 in184244274312342404
    Word, single spaced99139158178198237
    Word, double spaced198277317356396475

    Questions authors ask

    How many pages is 1,000 words?

    In Word or Google Docs with 12 pt Times New Roman and 1 in margins, 1,000 words is about 2 pages single spaced and about 4 pages double spaced. In a 6 x 9 in paperback it is about 3 pages.

    How many pages is an 80,000 word novel?

    About 274 pages as a 6 x 9 in paperback in 11 pt type with 25 chapters and 12 pages of front and back matter. The same book is about 328 pages at 5.5 x 8.5 in and 402 pages at 5 x 8 in, because smaller pages hold fewer words.

    How many words fit on a page of a paperback?

    Usually 250 to 350. Our estimate is about 217 for 5 x 8 in, 272 for 5.5 x 8.5 in and 332 for 6 x 9 in, all in 11 pt Garamond. Font, size, line spacing and margins can move that by a third either way.

    Why is this an estimate and not an exact count?

    Exact page counts come from the finished layout. Dialogue, short paragraphs, scene breaks, headings and images all change how full each page is. Use this number for planning, pricing and a first cover draft, then use the page count from your final interior file before you upload.

    Can I use my own words per page?

    Yes. If you have typeset a sample chapter, divide its word count by its pages and type that rate into Words per page. The calculator uses your rate instead of the estimate, and the share link keeps it.

    Why is the page count always even?

    A printed page has two sides, so a book always has an even number of pages. Printers add a blank page at the end if your file has an odd count.

    How many pages does a KDP paperback need?

    KDP paperbacks start at 24 pages. The maximum depends on trim and paper, for example 776 pages for 6 x 9 in on cream. KDP also won't print spine text below 80 pages.

    Is my word count sent anywhere?

    No. The calculator runs in your browser. Nothing you type leaves your device, and there is no signup.

    Before and after this step

    Read the guide

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    Sources

    Last verified against each printer's official help pages. Printers change their specs, so check the source before you order a proof.

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