The number of words per page varies enormously based on font, font size, line spacing, margins, and paper size. Here is a complete reference for every common scenario.
Words Per Page: Quick Reference
| Spacing | Font | Size | Words Per Page |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single-spaced | Times New Roman | 12pt | ~500 words |
| Double-spaced | Times New Roman | 12pt | ~250 words |
| Single-spaced | Arial | 12pt | ~450 words |
| Double-spaced | Arial | 12pt | ~225 words |
| Single-spaced | Courier New | 12pt | ~400 words |
| Double-spaced | Courier New | 12pt | ~200 words |
| Single-spaced | Times New Roman | 11pt | ~550 words |
| Single-spaced | Times New Roman | 10pt | ~600 words |
Converting Word Count to Pages
| Word Count | Single-Spaced Pages | Double-Spaced Pages |
|---|---|---|
| 250 words | ~0.5 pages | ~1 page |
| 500 words | ~1 page | ~2 pages |
| 750 words | ~1.5 pages | ~3 pages |
| 1,000 words | ~2 pages | ~4 pages |
| 1,500 words | ~3 pages | ~6 pages |
| 2,000 words | ~4 pages | ~8 pages |
| 3,000 words | ~6 pages | ~12 pages |
| 5,000 words | ~10 pages | ~20 pages |
| 10,000 words | ~20 pages | ~40 pages |
| 50,000 words | ~100 pages | ~200 pages |
| 80,000 words | ~160 pages | ~320 pages |
What Affects Words Per Page?
Font and font size
Monospaced fonts like Courier New fit fewer words per line than proportional fonts like Times New Roman. Every point size increase or decrease changes the page count noticeably for long documents.
Margins
Standard margins (1 inch / 2.54cm on all sides) are assumed in the tables above. Wider margins (1.5 inch) can reduce words per page by 15–25%. Narrower margins fit more words but may not meet submission requirements.
Line spacing
Double-spacing is the academic standard and roughly halves the words per page compared to single-spacing. 1.5 spacing falls between, at approximately 330–380 words per page with a 12pt font.
Headings, images, and tables
Academic papers with frequent section headings, figures, or data tables will have fewer words per page than straight text. A 5,000-word paper with multiple tables and section headings may run 25–30 pages, not 20.