Words per page calculator

How the estimate works

The tool starts from a published estimate of words per page for each font at 12 pt, single spaced, on a letter or A4 page with 1 inch margins. These are the figures most writing guides use:

• Times New Roman: about 500 words per page
• Arial: about 470
• Calibri: about 520
• Georgia: about 450
• Verdana: about 400
• Courier New: about 360

Then it adjusts for size and spacing:

Words per page = base words x (12 / font size)^2 / line spacing

Pages = word count / words per page

A smaller font fits more words on each line and more lines on each page, which is why the size is squared. Double spacing fits half as many lines, so it halves the words per page.

These are estimates

Real pages vary. Short paragraphs leave white space at the end of lines. Headings, block quotes, lists, a title page and a reference list all add pages. Long words fill a line faster than short ones. Margins wider than 1 inch fit fewer words. Treat the result as a guide, and check the real page count in your word processor.

Common school rules

Many essays use 12 pt Times New Roman, double spaced, with 1 inch margins. MLA and APA style both use this layout. In that case, one page is about 250 words, so a 5-page essay is about 1,250 words. Schools set their own rules, so check your syllabus or school handbook.

Going the other way

If you were told to write a number of pages, multiply the pages by the words per page shown in the tool. Two double-spaced pages in Times New Roman is about 500 words. Ten pages is about 2,500 words.

Why fonts differ

Each font has its own letter width. Courier New gives every letter the same width, so it fits the fewest words. Calibri and Times New Roman are narrow, so they fit more.