Word Count to Page Count Calculator
Written by Thierno Sadou Diallo, formula verified per our methodology • Last checked on 9/5/2026
The number of pages is calculated with word count ÷ words per page, rounded up to the nearest whole number. A 50,000-word text at 300 words per page comes to about 167 pages.
Explanation
The number of words per page varies a lot depending on formatting: about 250 to 300 words per page for a classic paperback or a single-spaced academic document (Times New Roman or similar, size 12, standard margins), but this figure can drop to 200 with double spacing (common for theses and dissertations under review), or exceed 500 for a very dense document in small print. That's why this calculator leaves this ratio as a free input rather than fixing it: the number of words per page depends directly on the font, its size, the line spacing, and the margins chosen, settings specific to each document. This estimate remains useful for getting a ballpark figure before final layout — to assess the length of a manuscript, estimate the page count of a thesis or dissertation, or size a printing quote, to combine for example with a printing cost calculator or a paper size calculator.
Example: a 50,000-word manuscript
Inputs
Word count: 50,000. Ratio: 300 words per page.
Calculation
Number of pages = ⌈50,000 ÷ 300⌉ = ⌈166.67⌉ = 167 pages.
Result
This 50,000-word text comes to about 167 pages, at this formatting ratio.
Frequently asked questions
Why 300 words per page and not another figure?
300 words per page is a common convention for estimating the length of a novel or a standard document, roughly corresponding to a letter-size or paperback page, single-spaced, medium-size font (11-12 point), and standard margins. It's just a starting benchmark: adjust the ratio to match your document's actual formatting.
Does this calculation work for a double-spaced academic thesis?
Yes, as long as you adjust the words-per-page ratio: a double-spaced document generally contains about 200 to 250 words per page rather than 300, since the extra spacing between lines reduces the amount of text visible on each page.
Is the result exact down to the word?
No, it's an estimate: the actual distribution of words across pages also depends on punctuation, paragraphs, headings, and any images or tables, which take up space without counting as running text. The result gives a reliable ballpark figure, not a guaranteed page count after final layout.