How Many Words Is 5 Pages? (Full Chart for Every Format)

By TextLoom Editorial · July 14, 2026 · 8 min read

The question comes up constantly: a professor assigns a 5-page paper, a client wants a 3-page brief, a job application asks for a one-page summary. How many words is that, exactly?

The frustrating honest answer is: it depends. Font size, line spacing, and margin width all change how many words fit on a page. A 5-page paper at 12pt double-spaced is roughly 1,250 words. The same assignment at 12pt single-spaced is roughly 2,500 words — twice as long.

This guide gives you the complete reference chart and explains exactly what each variable does to your word count.

The Short Answer: Words Per Page at 12pt Double-Spaced

If your assignment says "standard formatting" without further specification, assume 12pt Times New Roman or Calibri, double-spaced, 1-inch margins — the default for most North American academic institutions. Under those conditions:

• 1 page ≈ 250 words
• 2 pages ≈ 500 words
• 3 pages ≈ 750 words
• 4 pages ≈ 1,000 words
• 5 pages ≈ 1,250 words
• 10 pages ≈ 2,500 words
• 20 pages ≈ 5,000 words

These figures assume continuous prose. Headings, bullet points, code blocks, images, and extra blank lines all reduce the word count that fits on a page.

The Complete Words-Per-Page Chart

Here is the full reference for the five most common font sizes across three line spacing settings:

Estimates based on standard serif or sans-serif fonts (Times New Roman, Calibri, Arial) at 1-inch margins. Actual counts vary by ±10% depending on font choice.

What Changes Words Per Page

Line Spacing

Line spacing is the single biggest variable. Double-spaced text adds an empty line between every line of text, roughly cutting the word count per page in half compared to single-spaced. 1.5 spacing splits the difference. Always confirm which spacing your assignment requires before you start writing — it dramatically affects your target.

Font Size

Larger fonts mean bigger characters, which means fewer characters per line, which means fewer words per page. The difference between 10pt and 14pt is significant: a 10pt single-spaced page holds 700 words while a 14pt single-spaced page holds only 390 — almost half.

Font Choice

Narrower fonts like Times New Roman pack more characters per line than wider fonts like Arial. At 12pt, Times New Roman fits roughly 10–15% more words per page than Arial. Calibri sits between the two. Unless your assignment specifies a font, Times New Roman or Calibri are the safest defaults.

Margins

Standard 1-inch margins are assumed throughout this guide. Changing margins to 0.75 inches increases words per page by roughly 10–15%. Some students use narrow margins to make a short essay appear longer — most instructors recognize and penalize this.

How Many Words Is 5 Pages — By Format

What If My Assignment Specifies Words, Not Pages?

Increasingly, academic assignments specify word counts rather than page counts — which is more precise. If you're given a word count target, use the TextLoom Word Counter to track your progress in real time as you write. If you have a page count but want to know your word target, use the Words Per Page Calculator.

Practical Tips for Hitting a Page Count

• Write to your word count, not your page count. Set a word count target based on the chart above and track it continuously. Page count is a side effect of formatting — word count is what you control while writing.
• Format last. Write your draft without thinking about page count, then apply the required formatting at the end. This prevents you from inflating font size or margins to fake length.
• Check your professor's style guide. MLA, APA, and Chicago style guides all have specific formatting requirements that may override defaults.
• Don't pad. If you're short, add substance — a new supporting example, a counterargument you address, or a deeper exploration of a key point. See our guide on hitting a word count without padding.

Quick reference: 5 pages at 12pt double-spaced ≈ 1,250 words. Use the Words Per Page Calculator for other format combinations.