Type a word count and see what it means in manuscript pages, printed paperback pages and reading time. Publishers count words, but sometimes you just want to know how thick the book feels.
50,000 words is about 200 manuscript pages (double-spaced, 12pt) — roughly 167 pages in a typical paperback, 3 h 28 min of reading, or 5 h 33 min as an audiobook.
Quick reference — manuscript standard is double-spaced 12pt Times New Roman.
| Words | Manuscript pages | Paperback pages | Reading time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1,000 | 4 | 3–4 | 4 min |
| 2,500 | 10 | 8 | 10 min |
| 5,000 | 20 | 17 | 21 min |
| 10,000 | 40 | 33 | 42 min |
| 15,000 | 60 | 50 | 1 h 3 min |
| 20,000 | 80 | 67 | 1 h 23 min |
| 25,000 | 100 | 83 | 1 h 44 min |
| 30,000 | 120 | 100 | 2 h 5 min |
| 40,000 | 160 | 133 | 2 h 47 min |
| 50,000 | 200 | 167 | 3 h 28 min |
| 60,000 | 240 | 200 | 4 h 10 min |
| 70,000 | 280 | 233 | 4 h 52 min |
| 80,000 | 320 | 267 | 5 h 33 min |
| 90,000 | 360 | 300 | 6 h 15 min |
| 100,000 | 400 | 333 | 6 h 57 min |
| 120,000 | 480 | 400 | 8 h 20 min |
| 150,000 | 600 | 500 | 10 h 25 min |
Page count changes with font, size, spacing and trim — the same story is 320 pages in manuscript and 260 in print. Word count is the only measure that stays honest across formats, which is why agents, publishers and contests specify length in words. The numbers above use the industry conventions: ~250 words per double-spaced manuscript page and ~300 words per typical paperback page.
If you're writing a book right now, the more useful number is words per day — see our writing time calculator to turn a target word count into a finish date, and word counts by genre to pick the right target.
About 200 manuscript pages (double-spaced, 12pt) or 165–185 pages in a typical printed paperback.
Roughly 250 words on a double-spaced manuscript page, ~300 on a printed paperback page, and ~500 on a single-spaced A4 page at 12pt.
Most adult novels are 70,000–100,000 words — roughly 280–400 manuscript pages or 230–330 paperback pages.
Yes — page count is a rough measure that shifts with font, size, spacing and trim size. That's why agents and publishers always talk in word count, not pages.
Be Write keeps your word counts, streaks and milestones — and turns them into progress cards worth sharing. Coming soon to Google Play.
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