As a rule of thumb, a typed page in a 12 pt font with 1-inch margins holds about 500 words single-spaced and about 250 words double-spaced. So 1,000 words is about 2 pages single-spaced or 4 pages double-spaced. A handwritten ruled page holds about 250 words, and a printed paperback page about 250 to 300. Real counts vary with font, margins, headings and dialogue.
Quick reference
| Words | Single-spaced (12 pt) | Double-spaced (12 pt) | Handwritten |
|---|---|---|---|
| 250 | ½ page | 1 page | 1 page |
| 500 | 1 page | 2 pages | 2 pages |
| 750 | 1½ pages | 3 pages | 3 pages |
| 1,000 | 2 pages | 4 pages | 4 pages |
| 1,500 | 3 pages | 6 pages | 6 pages |
| 2,000 | 4 pages | 8 pages | 8 pages |
| 5,000 | 10 pages | 20 pages | 20 pages |
| 10,000 | 20 pages | 40 pages | 40 pages |
These figures assume a standard font such as Times New Roman or Arial at 12 pt on a US Letter or A4 page with 1-inch margins. Wider fonts, bigger margins, short paragraphs and lots of dialogue all lower the words per page.
How the estimate works
- Start from the rule of thumb: about 500 words per single-spaced page at 12 pt, 333 at 1.5 spacing and 250 double-spaced.
- Adjust for font size: text scales in both directions, so the converter multiplies by (12 ÷ your size)². A 10 pt page holds roughly 40% more words than a 12 pt page.
- Handwritten and paperback pages use typical figures: about 250 words on a ruled page, and about 275 on a printed paperback page, which commonly ranges from 250 to 300.
Why it matters for your draft
Page counts are how most assignments and submissions are measured, but word counts are how you can actually track progress. If your essay is "10 pages double-spaced", that's about 2,500 words. Split it into timed sprints of 500 to 600 words and it stops looking like a mountain. For longer projects, the word count goal calculator turns the total into a daily number, and our guide to how many words is a novel covers book lengths.
Frequently asked questions
How many pages is 1,000 words?
About 2 pages single-spaced or 4 pages double-spaced, in a 12 pt font with 1-inch margins.
How many words is a page?
About 500 words single-spaced and 250 double-spaced at 12 pt. A handwritten ruled page is about 250 words.
How many pages is 500 words?
About 1 page single-spaced or 2 pages double-spaced.
How many pages is a 50,000-word novel?
About 200 double-spaced manuscript pages, or roughly 180 to 200 pages as a printed paperback, depending on the book's design.
Is morning pages "three pages" really 750 words?
Three handwritten pages is about 750 words, which is why many people use 750 typed words as the equivalent. See the morning pages prompts.
Can an AI assistant use this converter?
Yes. The form is a WebMCP tool called convert_words_to_pages. See For AI agents.
