Assignments are set in pages, but word processors count words. This words to pages calculator estimates how many pages a given word count will fill, and how many words a page requirement implies, based on font, line spacing and standard 1-inch margins. The figures it uses are rules of thumb: roughly 500 words per single-spaced page and 250 per double-spaced page in 12-point Times New Roman. Real pages vary with paragraph length, headings, dialogue and block quotes, so for an exact figure, type one full page in your own document and enter its word count as your own words per page.
Purdue OWL's MLA guide calls for double-spaced text in a legible 12-point font with 1-inch margins, and the APA Style website calls for double spacing and 1-inch margins throughout. To see how long your essay takes to read aloud or proofread, try the reading time calculator.
How to use the words to pages calculator
- Enter your word count (from your word processor’s word count tool).
- Choose the font and line spacing required by your assignment.
- For a precise result, enter the word count of one full page of your own document as your words per page.
- To convert a page requirement ("4–5 pages") to words, enter the number of pages.
Formula
Starting estimates used for single-spaced 12-point text with 1-inch margins on US Letter paper: Times New Roman and Calibri about 500 words per page, Arial about 470, Courier New about 320. These are approximate and vary by text. One-and-a-half spacing divides the single-spaced figure by 1.5.
Worked example
- 1,500 words, Times New Roman, double-spaced: 1,500 ÷ 250 = about 6 pages.
- The same text single-spaced: 1,500 ÷ 500 = about 3 pages.
- A five-page double-spaced requirement is about 5 × 250 = 1,250 words.
- If one full page of your draft is 274 words, 1,500 words is 1,500 ÷ 274 = 5.5 pages.
Quick reference: words to pages
Approximate, 12-point Times New Roman, 1-inch margins.
| Words | Single-spaced | Double-spaced |
|---|---|---|
| 250 | ½ page | 1 page |
| 500 | 1 page | 2 pages |
| 750 | 1½ pages | 3 pages |
| 1,000 | 2 pages | 4 pages |
| 1,500 | 3 pages | 6 pages |
| 2,000 | 4 pages | 8 pages |
| 2,500 | 5 pages | 10 pages |
| 5,000 | 10 pages | 20 pages |
Formatting rules that change page count
Purdue OWL's MLA guide calls for double spacing, 1-inch margins and a legible font such as Times New Roman in 12 point, with a heading block on the first page. The APA Style website says to double-space all parts of a paper, including block quotations and the reference list, with 1-inch margins on every side, and APA papers begin with a title page. Title pages, headings, block quotations, figures and the works-cited or reference list all take space. Teachers usually mean the body text when they set a page count, but check whether those parts count.
Avoid stretching an essay with larger fonts or margins. Instructors notice, and many now set word counts instead of page counts for exactly this reason. If you have a word limit, aim to finish within about 10% of it unless told otherwise.
Caveats and assumptions
- Words-per-page figures are approximations, not standards; your own document is the best guide.
- Dialogue, short paragraphs, headings and lists use more pages per word than dense prose.
- Assumes US Letter paper; A4 paper holds a similar amount of text.
- Check whether your instructor counts the title page and references toward the page requirement.
Frequently asked questions
How many pages is 1,000 words?
About 2 pages single-spaced or 4 pages double-spaced in 12-point Times New Roman with 1-inch margins.
How many words is a 5-page paper?
Roughly 1,250 words double-spaced or 2,500 single-spaced, using the 250 and 500 words-per-page rules of thumb.
How many words are on a double-spaced page?
About 250 in 12-point Times New Roman with 1-inch margins, varying with paragraph breaks and headings.
Does MLA format require double spacing?
Yes. Purdue OWL’s MLA guide specifies double-spaced text, 1-inch margins and a legible 12-point font such as Times New Roman.
Why does my essay have a different page count than the estimate?
Short paragraphs, dialogue, headings and quotations add white space. Type one page of your own document and use its word count as words per page.
Sources
- Purdue OWL — MLA General Format — double spacing, 1-inch margins, 12-point font
- APA Style — Line Spacing — double-space all parts of the paper
- APA Style — Margins — 1-inch margins on every side
This calculator gives estimates for planning and education. Check measurements, local codes, supplier specs and your school's official policy before relying on a result. See our disclaimer and how we build and check calculators.