How Many Words Is a Page? Word Counts for Essays and Documents
Updated October 2026
A teacher asks for a three page essay, but you are writing in a text box and only see words. The honest answer is that it depends on spacing, font and margins. This guide gives you the usual numbers and shows how to check your own document.
The short answer
With a standard setup (12 point Times New Roman or a similar font, 1 inch margins) a page holds roughly:
- Single spaced: about 500 words.
- Double spaced: about 250 words.
- 1.5 line spacing: about 350 words.
These are estimates. A page with headings, lists, images or short paragraphs holds fewer words, and a large font such as 14 point does the same.
Word counts for common page lengths
| Pages | Single spaced | Double spaced |
|---|---|---|
| 1 page | about 500 words | about 250 words |
| 2 pages | about 1,000 words | about 500 words |
| 3 pages | about 1,500 words | about 750 words |
| 5 pages | about 2,500 words | about 1,250 words |
| 10 pages | about 5,000 words | about 2,500 words |
Count the words in your own text
Paste your text into the word counter and it shows the number of words and characters straight away. Compare the result with the table above to see roughly how many pages you have.
If you only have a page limit, divide it by the numbers above to get a target. A five page, double spaced essay is about 1,250 words.
Why the number is never exact
- Fonts differ. Arial and Calibri are wider than Times New Roman, so fewer words fit.
- Margins and line spacing change the space available.
- Paragraph breaks, headings, tables and images use space without adding words.
- Some assignments count the title page, references or footnotes and some do not. Check the instructions.
When the instructions mention both a page limit and a word limit, the word limit is usually the one that is checked.
How long does it take to read?
Most adults read about 200 to 250 words a minute, so a 1,000 word text takes around four to five minutes. The word counter also shows an estimated reading time, which is handy for blog posts and speeches.
Privacy
The text you paste is counted in your browser and is not sent anywhere, so it is fine to use for unfinished essays or work documents.