Page counts for 250 to 5000 words, single and double spaced, and how long they take to read or present. Useful for essays, assignments and speeches.
Your teacher asks for a 1500-word assignment; the rubric says 6 pages. Are they the same? Here's the quick answer for common lengths, and how to check your own text.
The short answer
With a 12 pt font like Times New Roman or Arial and normal 1-inch margins:
- Single-spaced: about 500 words per page
- Double-spaced: about 250 words per page
So 1000 words is about 2 pages single-spaced or 4 pages double-spaced.
Words to pages table
| Words | Single-spaced | Double-spaced | Reading time | Speaking time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 250 | ½ page | 1 page | 1¼ min | 2 min |
| 500 | 1 page | 2 pages | 2½ min | 4 min |
| 1000 | 2 pages | 4 pages | 5 min | 7½ min |
| 1500 | 3 pages | 6 pages | 7½ min | 11½ min |
| 2000 | 4 pages | 8 pages | 10 min | 15½ min |
| 3000 | 6 pages | 12 pages | 15 min | 23 min |
| 5000 | 10 pages | 20 pages | 25 min | 38½ min |
Reading time assumes 200 words per minute; speaking time assumes 130 words per minute, a comfortable pace for a presentation.
What changes the page count?
- Font and size: Arial is wider than Times New Roman; 11 pt fits more than 12 pt.
- Headings, lists and short paragraphs add white space.
- Tables, images and references can add pages without adding many words.
If a teacher sets both a word count and a page count, the word count is usually the real rule.
Count your own text
Paste your essay into the Word Counter, or open a .docx file directly. It shows words, characters, sentences, paragraphs, reading and speaking time and estimated pages. Set a word limit and it tells you how many words are left or how far over you are.
Planning a long assignment
Split a 3000-word assignment into sections (introduction 300, three body sections of 700, conclusion 300) and write one section per study session. The Study Hours Calculator and Study Timetable Generator help you fit it into your week. When it's done, turn it into one PDF with our assignment PDF guide.