How Many Words in a Novel? Word Counts for Every Genre
Updated February 2026 · 8 min read
Quick Answer
A standard novel is 70,000-100,000 words. Short stories are 1,000-7,500 words. Novellas are 17,500-40,000 words.
Word Count by Fiction Format
| Format | Word Count |
|---|---|
| Flash Fiction | Under 1,000 words |
| Short Story | 1,000 – 7,500 words |
| Novelette | 7,500 – 17,500 words |
| Novella | 17,500 – 40,000 words |
| Short Novel | 40,000 – 70,000 words |
| Standard Novel | 70,000 – 100,000 words |
| Long Novel | 100,000 – 150,000 words |
| Epic Novel | 150,000+ words |
Word Count by Genre
Different genres have different expected word counts. Publishing industry standards vary by genre and knowing the right range is important if you are submitting to agents or publishers.
Literary Fiction
Can run longer if the prose justifies it
Mystery / Thriller
Pacing is key — keep it tight
Romance
Category romance 50,000-60,000 words
Science Fiction / Fantasy
World building requires more words
Young Adult (YA)
Upper YA can reach 100,000 words
Middle Grade
Ages 8-12, shorter is better
Children's Picture Books
Less is more for young readers
Horror
Atmosphere requires space to build
Historical Fiction
Research and detail add length
Non-Fiction
Depends heavily on subject matter
Famous Novel Word Counts
| Novel | Word Count |
|---|---|
| The Great Gatsby | 47,094 |
| The Hunger Games | 99,750 |
| Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone | 77,325 |
| Lord of the Rings (full trilogy) | 576,459 |
| Gone with the Wind | 418,053 |
| War and Peace | 580,000 |
| Crime and Punishment | 211,591 |
| To Kill a Mockingbird | 100,388 |
How Long Does It Take to Write a Novel?
At a consistent daily writing pace here is how long it would take to complete a first draft.
80k novel: 160 days (5.3 months)
100k novel: 200 days (6.7 months)
80k novel: 80 days (2.7 months)
100k novel: 100 days (3.3 months)
80k novel: 40 days (1.3 months)
100k novel: 50 days (1.7 months)
Track Your Word Count
Use our free word counter to track your daily writing progress and see how close you are to your novel word count goal.
Count Your Words Free →Frequently Asked Questions
How many words is a novel?
A standard novel is 70,000-100,000 words. Literary fiction tends to run longer at 80,000-110,000 words while genre fiction like thrillers and romance are typically 70,000-90,000 words.
How many words is a short story?
A short story is typically 1,000-7,500 words. Flash fiction is under 1,000 words. A novelette is 7,500-17,500 words and a novella is 17,500-40,000 words.
How many words is Harry Potter?
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone is approximately 77,000 words. The entire Harry Potter series is over 1 million words with The Order of the Phoenix being the longest at around 257,000 words.
How long does it take to write a novel?
Most authors take 6 months to 2 years to write a first draft. At 1000 words per day it would take approximately 70-100 days to write a first draft of a standard novel.
What is the minimum word count for a novel?
Publishers generally consider anything over 40,000 words a novel, though most require at least 50,000-60,000 words. The standard minimum for most major publishers is 70,000 words.