How Many Words Is a Page? (1, 2, 5, 10 and 20 Pages Double-Spaced)
Key takeaways
- 1 page ≈ 275 words double-spaced (250–300) or 550 words single-spaced (500–600), in 12-pt Times New Roman with 1-inch margins.
- 2 pages ≈ 550 words double-spaced (1,100 single-spaced). 20 pages ≈ 5,500 words double-spaced.
- To convert: pages × 275 for double-spaced, pages × 550 for single-spaced.
Assignment briefs give length in either words or pages, which makes it hard to know how much to write. Use the converter below, or find your number in the tables.
Words-to-pages converter
How many words is a page? Quick answers
- How many words is 1 page double-spaced? About 275 words (250–300).
- How many words is 2 pages? About 550 words double-spaced, or 1,100 words single-spaced.
- How many words is a 2-page double-spaced paper? 500–600 words. Aim for about 550.
- How many words is 5 pages double-spaced? About 1,375 words.
- How many words is 10 pages double-spaced? About 2,750 words.
- How many words is 20 pages double-spaced? About 5,500 words (5,000–6,000).
Pages-to-words table
Based on 12-pt Times New Roman, 1-inch margins and normal paragraphs:
| Pages | Double-spaced | Single-spaced |
|---|---|---|
| 1 page | 275 words | 550 words |
| 2 pages | 550 words | 1,100 words |
| 3 pages | 825 words | 1,650 words |
| 4 pages | 1,100 words | 2,200 words |
| 5 pages | 1,375 words | 2,750 words |
| 6 pages | 1,650 words | 3,300 words |
| 8 pages | 2,200 words | 4,400 words |
| 10 pages | 2,750 words | 5,500 words |
| 12 pages | 3,300 words | 6,600 words |
| 15 pages | 4,125 words | 8,250 words |
| 20 pages | 5,500 words | 11,000 words |
| 25 pages | 6,875 words | 13,750 words |
| 30 pages | 8,250 words | 16,500 words |
Words-to-pages table
| Words | Double-spaced pages | Single-spaced pages |
|---|---|---|
| 250 | 1 | 0.5 |
| 500 | 2 | 1 |
| 750 | 3 | 1.5 |
| 1,000 | 4 | 2 |
| 1,500 | 5.5 | 3 |
| 2,000 | 7–8 | 3.5–4 |
| 2,500 | 9 | 4.5 |
| 3,000 | 11 | 5.5 |
| 4,000 | 14.5 | 7.5 |
| 5,000 | 18 | 9 |
| 10,000 | 36 | 18 |
What changes the words per page?
- Font: Arial and Calibri are wider than Times New Roman, so fewer words fit on a page.
- Font size: 11-pt fits roughly 10–15% more words than 12-pt.
- Paragraph length: many short paragraphs, headings and lists reduce the word count per page.
- Title page and references: these usually don't count toward the required length.
Which should you follow: word count or page count?
If your brief gives both, the word count is more precise. Instructors often allow ±10%. When only pages are given, use 275 words per double-spaced page as your target. Check your syllabus to confirm.
Frequently asked questions
How many words is 2 pages double-spaced?
About 550 words: anywhere from 500 to 600 words fills two double-spaced pages in 12-pt Times New Roman.
How many words is 20 pages double-spaced?
About 5,500 words, or 5,000–6,000 depending on font and paragraph length. Single-spaced, 20 pages is about 11,000 words.
How many words is a single-spaced page?
About 550 words, or 500–600, which is twice as many as a double-spaced page.
How many pages is a 500-word essay?
About 2 pages double-spaced, or 1 page single-spaced.
How many pages is 1,000 words?
About 4 pages double-spaced, or 2 pages single-spaced.
Do references count toward word count?
Usually not. Most instructors exclude the title page, reference list and appendices. Check your rubric.
How long does it take to write a page?
A researched, double-spaced page takes most students 30–60 minutes, not counting research time.
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