How Many Words Per Page? (Double-Spaced, Single-Spaced, APA, MLA)
- Double-spaced, 12pt Times New Roman: ~250 words per page
- Single-spaced, 12pt Times New Roman: ~500 words per page
- 1,000 words = about 4 pages double-spaced or 2 pages single-spaced
- These numbers vary by font, margins, and paragraph spacing
Table of Contents
A standard double-spaced page — 8.5x11 inches, 12pt Times New Roman, 1-inch margins — holds roughly 250-275 words. That means a 1,000-word essay fills about 4 double-spaced pages, and a 5-page paper requires about 1,250 words. Single-spaced, those same pages hold around 500 words each. Below is the full breakdown by format.
Double-Spaced: The Academic Standard
When professors say "write a 5-page paper," they almost always mean double-spaced, 12pt Times New Roman, 1-inch margins. Under these conditions, you get approximately 250-275 words per page. The variance comes from paragraph breaks, headers, and whether you're writing in a compact style (long paragraphs) or an airy one (lots of short paragraphs).
| Word Count | Pages (Double-Spaced) |
|---|---|
| 250 words | ~1 page |
| 500 words | ~2 pages |
| 750 words | ~3 pages |
| 1,000 words | ~4 pages |
| 1,500 words | ~6 pages |
| 2,000 words | ~8 pages |
| 5,000 words | ~20 pages |
Single-Spaced: Twice the Words Per Page
Single-spaced text at 12pt Times New Roman holds roughly 500-550 words per page. This is the format used for business documents, cover letters, and personal statements — contexts where a dense page reads as efficient rather than hard to follow.
| Word Count | Pages (Single-Spaced) |
|---|---|
| 500 words | ~1 page |
| 1,000 words | ~2 pages |
| 1,500 words | ~3 pages |
| 2,000 words | ~4 pages |
| 5,000 words | ~10 pages |
If you're converting a single-spaced draft to double-spaced for submission, the page count roughly doubles.
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Both APA and MLA default to double-spaced, 12pt Times New Roman with 1-inch margins — so the words-per-page calculation is the same for both: about 250-275 words per page. The difference is in what counts toward your word count.
In APA format, the title page, abstract, reference list, and figure captions are often excluded from word count — check your instructor's specific requirements. In MLA, the Works Cited page is typically excluded. Both formats include the main body text.
- APA: Abstract typically 150-250 words (separate from body count)
- MLA: Works Cited page excluded from body count
- Chicago: Footnotes and bibliography typically excluded
Font Size and Margins Change Everything
The 250 words-per-page figure assumes 12pt Times New Roman with 1-inch margins. Changing any of these shifts the calculation significantly:
| Setting | Approximate Words Per Page (Double-Spaced) |
|---|---|
| 12pt Times New Roman, 1" margins | 250-275 |
| 12pt Arial, 1" margins | 230-250 (slightly larger font) |
| 11pt Calibri, 1" margins | 270-290 (tighter spacing) |
| 10pt font, 1" margins | 300-320 |
| 12pt TNR, 1.5" margins | 210-230 (wider margins) |
The fastest way to know exactly how many words you have is to paste your text into the word counter above — the format doesn't matter for counting.
Why Novels Have More Words Per Page Than Essays
A printed novel page is denser than an academic essay page. Books typically use 10-11pt fonts, tighter line spacing, and smaller margins — fitting 250-350 words per page on average. A 300-page novel with 300 words per page equals about 90,000 words. That tracks with industry averages for commercial fiction.
This is why "page count" alone is a poor indicator of writing volume. A 5-page academic paper (double-spaced, 12pt) contains about 1,250 words. A 5-page chapter in a paperback novel contains about 1,500 words. Both are "5 pages" but the densities are completely different.
Count Your Words Right Now
Paste any essay, chapter, or document into the free counter above. Instant word count, character count, and reading time — no signup.
Open Free Word CounterFrequently Asked Questions
How many words is a 5-page paper double spaced?
A 5-page double-spaced paper at 12pt Times New Roman with 1-inch margins contains approximately 1,250-1,375 words. The exact count depends on paragraph breaks, headers, and writing style, but 1,250 is a reliable estimate.
How many pages is a 1,000-word essay double spaced?
A 1,000-word essay at standard double-spaced formatting (12pt Times New Roman, 1-inch margins) runs approximately 4 pages. Single-spaced, the same 1,000 words would fill about 2 pages.
Does word count include the title and headers?
In most academic contexts, the title page, headers, and running head are excluded from word count. The main body text counts. For specific assignments, always confirm with your instructor — requirements vary by institution and style guide.
How many words per page is standard for a novel?
Published novels average 250-350 words per printed page, depending on font size, margins, and publisher. A 300-page paperback typically contains 75,000-90,000 words total.
