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How Many Words Per Page? Complete Guide (2026)

Updated February 2026 · 8 min read

Quick Answer

A standard double spaced page contains 250-275 words with 12pt Times New Roman. A single spaced page contains 500-550 words.

Words Per Page by Font and Spacing

The number of words per page depends on four main factors: font type, font size, line spacing and margins. Here are the most common combinations used in academic and professional writing.

Double Spaced (Standard Essay Format)

FontSizeWords Per Page
Times New Roman12pt250-275
Arial12pt270-300
Calibri11pt290-310
Courier New12pt220-240
Georgia12pt250-270

Single Spaced

FontSizeWords Per Page
Times New Roman12pt500-550
Arial12pt550-600
Calibri11pt580-620
Courier New12pt440-480

Word Count to Pages Conversion Table

Use this quick reference table to convert any word count to pages. These estimates are based on 12pt Times New Roman with standard 1 inch margins.

Word CountDouble SpacedSingle Spaced
250 words1 page½ page
500 words2 pages1 page
750 words3 pages1½ pages
1000 words4 pages2 pages
1500 words6 pages3 pages
2000 words8 pages4 pages
2500 words10 pages5 pages
3000 words12 pages6 pages
5000 words20 pages10 pages
10000 words40 pages20 pages

Common Assignment Word Counts

Here are common academic assignments and their approximate page counts.

High School Essay

500-800 words

2-3 pages double spaced

College Essay

1000-1500 words

4-6 pages double spaced

Research Paper

3000-5000 words

12-20 pages double spaced

Master's Thesis

15000-25000 words

60-100 pages

PhD Dissertation

80000-100000 words

200-300 pages

Short Story

1000-7500 words

4-30 pages

What Affects Words Per Page?

Several factors affect how many words fit on a page. Understanding these will help you format your document correctly.

Font Type

Serif fonts like Times New Roman are slightly more compact than sans-serif fonts like Arial. Monospace fonts like Courier New have the fewest words per page.

Font Size

The standard academic font size is 12pt. Every point increase or decrease significantly changes the words per page. A 10pt font fits around 25% more words than 12pt.

Line Spacing

Double spacing is standard for most academic papers. Single spacing fits twice as many words per page. 1.5 spacing falls in between.

Margins

Standard margins are 1 inch on all sides. Wider margins mean fewer words per page. Some professors require 1.5 inch margins which significantly reduces the word count per page.

Paragraph Spacing

Extra spacing between paragraphs reduces words per page. Some word processors add extra space after each paragraph by default.

Use Our Free Words Per Page Calculator

Instead of estimating, use our free calculator to get an exact word count to pages conversion based on your specific font, font size and spacing settings.

Try the Words Per Page Calculator →

Frequently Asked Questions

How many words is a double spaced page?

A double spaced page with 12pt Times New Roman font contains approximately 250-275 words. With 12pt Arial it is approximately 270-300 words.

How many pages is 1000 words double spaced?

1000 words double spaced with 12pt Times New Roman is approximately 4 pages. With Arial or Calibri it may be slightly fewer pages.

How many words is a single spaced page?

A single spaced page contains approximately 500-550 words with 12pt Times New Roman and standard 1 inch margins.

How many pages is 500 words?

500 words is approximately 2 pages double spaced or 1 page single spaced with 12pt font and standard margins.

How many pages is 2000 words?

2000 words is approximately 8 pages double spaced or 4 pages single spaced with 12pt font.