Word Count to Page Count Converter

How many words fit on a printed page?

A 6 x 9 inch paperback at 11pt with normal leading holds roughly 280 to 300 words per page. A 5 x 8 inch trim holds about 220 to 250. Large print editions drop to 150 or fewer. These are working averages, since dialogue-heavy pages hold fewer words than dense description.

Why does trim size matter so much?

A larger trim gives you a wider text block and more lines per page, so the same manuscript compresses into fewer pages. Choosing 6 x 9 instead of 5 x 8 can cut 25% off your page count, which directly reduces printing cost and lets you price lower while keeping the same royalty.

Should I inflate my page count?

It is tempting to widen margins and leading to make a short book look substantial, but readers notice and reviews mention it. A better route is to choose a trim size that suits your genre and let the book be the length it is.

What page count does my genre expect?

Category romance runs 50,000 to 70,000 words, thrillers 70,000 to 90,000, epic fantasy 100,000 upward, and most non-fiction 40,000 to 70,000. Readers form expectations from the physical thickness on a shelf, so being far outside the range is worth a second look.

Frequently asked questions

How many pages is 50,000 words?

At 6 x 9 inches and 11pt type, 50,000 words is roughly 175 to 185 printed pages. At 5 x 8 inches it is closer to 210 pages.

How many pages is 80,000 words?

About 280 to 290 pages at 6 x 9 inches, or roughly 330 pages at 5 x 8 inches.

Does font size change page count?

Significantly. Moving from 10pt to 12pt can add 20% or more to your page count, and every extra page adds printing cost.

Do front and back matter count?

Yes. Title page, copyright, dedication, table of contents and back matter all take printed pages, usually 8 to 14 in total.

Is page count the same for ebooks?

No. Ebooks reflow to the reader's device and font choice, so there is no fixed page count. Amazon shows an estimated print length instead.