How this calculator works
This calculator converts between word count and page count using the standard 12pt font conventions that schools, word-count guides and manuscript-formatting standards commonly cite. Choose your font, line spacing, and either a word count or a target page count, and it converts in either direction using the corresponding words-per-page value.
These numbers are conventions, not physical constants — actual words per page vary with margins, font size, paragraph spacing and how much punctuation and short words a piece of writing uses. They are consistent enough, however, that teachers and editors use fixed values like 250 words per double-spaced page to estimate manuscript or assignment length without counting every word by hand.
The formula
Words per page = base words-per-page (font) ÷ spacing multiplier (single = 1, 1.5-spaced = 1.5, double = 2)Pages = word count ÷ words per pageWords = page count × words per pageBase convention values used here: 500 words per single-spaced page for 12pt Times New Roman, 450 for 12pt Arial (Arial is a visually wider font, so fewer words fit per line and per page at the same point size).
Worked example: a 1,000-word essay
- Times New Roman, 12pt, double-spaced: words per page = 500 ÷ 2 = 250.
- Pages = 1,000 ÷ 250 = 4 pages.
- Switching to single spacing: words per page = 500 ÷ 1 = 500, so the same 1,000 words becomes 1,000 ÷ 500 = 2 pages.
- Switching to Arial instead of Times New Roman at double spacing: words per page = 450 ÷ 2 = 225, so 1,000 words becomes 1,000 ÷ 225 ≈ 4.4 pages — slightly more pages than Times New Roman for the identical word count.
Frequently asked questions
Why 250 words per double-spaced page specifically?
It comes from standard manuscript formatting: 12pt Times New Roman or Courier, 1-inch margins and double spacing produce about 25 lines per page at roughly 10 words per line, which multiplies out to about 250 words. This is the convention long used by editors, agents and teachers to estimate manuscript and essay length quickly.
Does font size change the words-per-page number?
Yes, significantly. These values assume 12pt type, the standard for essays, manuscripts and most academic assignments. Larger fonts fit fewer words per page and smaller fonts fit more; if your assignment specifies a different point size, treat these numbers as a rough starting point rather than exact.
Why does Arial come out to fewer words per page than Times New Roman?
Arial is a sans-serif typeface with wider individual letterforms than the serif Times New Roman at the same point size, so a line of Arial text holds fewer characters, and a page holds fewer words as a result. The convention used here assumes roughly a 10% reduction, though the exact difference depends on the specific text.
My teacher wants a specific number of pages — how many words should I write?
Pick the mode that converts pages to words, select the font and spacing your assignment requires, and enter the target page count. Treat the result as a target to aim for, since actual page count also depends on paragraph breaks, headings, and any images or block quotes.
Is this the same as what word processors like Word show as 'page count'?
Not exactly. Word processors calculate the actual page count from your real margins, font, spacing and layout as you type, which is more precise than a fixed words-per-page convention. This calculator is useful for planning before you start writing, or for estimating length from a word count alone.