Instantly convert word count to pages, or pages to words. Adjust for font, size, spacing, and margins to get an accurate estimate.
The converter uses the common convention of 250 words per double-spaced page and 500 words per single-spaced page as its baseline. This standard assumes 12-point Times New Roman with 1-inch margins, which is the default format for most academic papers in the United States.
Different fonts, sizes, and spacing adjust this baseline proportionally. Narrower fonts like Courier New fit fewer words per page; wider fonts like Arial fit fewer as well (due to letter width). Smaller font sizes allow more text; larger sizes fit less. Tighter spacing allows more content per page.
These are estimates. Your actual page count may vary based on paragraph breaks, block quotes, headings, images, and reference lists, all of which consume space without adding to the word count.
| Font | 10pt Single | 12pt Single | 14pt Single | 10pt Double | 12pt Double | 14pt Double |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Times New Roman | 645 | 500 | 430 | 320 | 250 | 215 |
| Arial | 580 | 450 | 390 | 290 | 225 | 195 |
| Calibri | 575 | 445 | 385 | 290 | 220 | 190 |
| Verdana | 480 | 370 | 320 | 240 | 185 | 160 |
| Courier New | 350 | 270 | 235 | 175 | 135 | 115 |
Use these figures to quickly estimate how many pages your essay will be, based on the word count and format. All figures assume 12-point Times New Roman with 1-inch margins.
| Word Count | Single-spaced | 1.5 spacing | Double-spaced |
|---|---|---|---|
| 250 | 0.5 | 0.8 | 1.0 |
| 500 | 1.0 | 1.5 | 2.0 |
| 750 | 1.5 | 2.3 | 3.0 |
| 1,000 | 2.0 | 3.0 | 4.0 |
| 1,500 | 3.0 | 4.5 | 6.0 |
| 2,000 | 4.0 | 6.0 | 8.0 |
| 2,500 | 5.0 | 7.5 | 10.0 |
| 3,000 | 6.0 | 9.0 | 12.0 |
| 5,000 | 10.0 | 15.0 | 20.0 |
| 10,000 | 20.0 | 30.0 | 40.0 |
If you have a page limit instead of a word limit, use this table to figure out how many words you should aim for. Based on 12-point Times New Roman with 1-inch margins.
| Pages | Single-spaced | 1.5 spacing | Double-spaced |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 500 | 333 | 250 |
| 2 | 1,000 | 667 | 500 |
| 3 | 1,500 | 1,000 | 750 |
| 5 | 2,500 | 1,667 | 1,250 |
| 10 | 5,000 | 3,333 | 2,500 |
| 20 | 10,000 | 6,667 | 5,000 |
A short announcement, one-paragraph email, or quick note. At single spacing with 12-point Times New Roman and standard margins, 250 words fills half a page. Double-spaced, it stretches to a full page, a format often required for essays in high school or early college. If you're asked to write "about a page," plan for 250–300 double-spaced words.
A short blog post, brief article, or half-essay. Single-spaced in 12-point Times New Roman, 500 words is a full page. Double-spaced (the standard for academic work), it fills two pages. Most magazine articles and "short-form" content target this range. College applications often ask for 500-word essays.
A medium article or substantial essay. In double spacing, 750 words runs 3 pages. This is a comfortable length for academic papers when you need depth but not exhaustive coverage. Many course assignments ask for "a short paper" in this ballpark.
A full article or academic essay. Single-spaced, 1,000 words fills 2 pages. Double-spaced, it runs 4 pages, the default length for a short college paper or blog post. This is one of the most common targets in academic writing.
A substantial academic paper or feature article. At double spacing, 1,500 words is 6 pages, enough for a solid research paper or magazine piece with introduction, several body sections, and conclusion. Many college courses expect papers in this range.
A research paper, thesis chapter, or long-form article. Double-spaced, 2,000 words fills 8 pages. This is typical for substantial academic work, published essays, and grant proposals. It signals seriousness and depth.
A major term paper or academic chapter. At double spacing, 2,500 words is 10 pages, the threshold where your paper begins to feel truly comprehensive. Journal articles sometimes aim for this target.
A long academic paper or published article. Double-spaced, 3,000 words is 12 pages. This is the length of a serious research paper, journal submission, or book chapter. It requires substantial argument and evidence.
A major research article or dissertation chapter. At double spacing, 5,000 words is 20 pages. This is professional, published-level work. Only longer essays, major projects, or graduate-level papers reach this length.
A long-form essay, thesis, or substantial book chapter. Double-spaced, 10,000 words fills 40 pages. Work at this length is typically graduate-level, journal-published, or a standalone monograph. It represents comprehensive, expert-level exploration of a topic.
The figures above are estimates. Real page counts vary based on several factors that do not appear in the word count:
These are the same standard stated for different spacing. Double-spaced text (the required format for most academic papers) contains about 250 words per page. Single-spaced text (common in business or legal documents) contains about 500 words per page. Both assume 12-point Times New Roman with 1-inch margins. The difference is purely spacing: double spacing uses twice the line height.
Fonts differ in character width. Courier New is monospace: every letter, even an "i" or "w", takes the same width. This makes Courier spread text out more, so fewer words fit per page. Serif fonts like Times New Roman have narrower letters than sans-serif fonts like Arial. A font's design affects how densely you can pack words into a page.
Always follow your instructor's or publication's specific requirements. This tool gives you ballpark estimates based on industry standards. If your syllabus says "4–6 pages double-spaced", format your paper that way and check the actual page count in your word processor, not just the word count. Different instructors and systems may apply different rules (some count words differently, some apply tighter margins).
Word processors apply different default spacing, kerning, and paragraph settings. Microsoft Word uses different line-height calculations than Google Docs. A document that is 5 pages in Word might be 4.8 pages in Google Docs, even though the word count is identical. This is normal and usually a difference of less than half a page.
No. Instructors notice artificially large margins, extra line spacing, or large font sizes. The page count is a proxy for depth and effort, not a literal measure. If you're asked for 5 pages and your paper is 4.2 pages with solid content, the paper is likely fine: ask your instructor rather than padding. If your paper is too short on substance, add more argument and evidence, not whitespace.
Your teacher may have different formatting rules. If they specified "1,000 words = 2 pages", they likely mean single-spaced text, or they may be using a different font or margin. Always follow your teacher's or publication's explicit requirements over general conventions. This tool uses the most common US academic standard (12pt Times New Roman, 1-inch margins, double-spaced), but there is no universal rule.