Word count to pages
How many pages is 5,000 words?
5,000 words is about 20 double-spaced manuscript pages, 10 single-spaced pages or 17 pages in a 6" x 9" paperback.
Pages in a 6" x 9" paperback
17
At about 300 words a page
Double-spaced manuscript
20
Industry standard: 250 words a page
Manuscript, double-spaced
12pt, 1-inch margins · ~250 words a page
20 pages
Single-spaced document
12pt, Word or Google Docs · ~500 words a page
10 pages
Paperback 5" x 8"
Typical trade layout · ~250 words a page
20 pages
Paperback 5.5" x 8.5"
Typical trade layout · ~275 words a page
19 pages
Paperback 6" x 9"
Common nonfiction size · ~300 words a page
17 pages
Reading time
21 min
Audiobook length
32 min
5,000 words is a typical length for a lead magnet or short guide.
Pages
5,000 words in pages
Page counts for the common formats. Paperback numbers assume a typical trade layout; your designer's font and margins decide the final count.
| Format | Words a page | Pages |
|---|---|---|
| Manuscript, double-spaced (12pt, 1-inch margins) | 250 | 20 |
| Single-spaced document (12pt, Word or Google Docs) | 500 | 10 |
| Paperback 5" x 8" (Typical trade layout) | 250 | 20 |
| Paperback 5.5" x 8.5" (Typical trade layout) | 275 | 19 |
| Paperback 6" x 9" (Common nonfiction size) | 300 | 17 |
Time
How long is 5,000 words to read?
Average adult speeds from a review of 190 reading studies, plus the audiobook rate ACX uses.
| Activity | Speed | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Silent reading, nonfiction | 238 words a minute | 21 min |
| Silent reading, fiction | 260 words a minute | 19 min |
| Reading aloud or a speech | 183 words a minute | 27 min |
| Finished audiobook | 9,300 words an hour | 32 min |
More options, or paste your own text, in the reading time calculator.
Book length
What is a 5,000-word manuscript?
At this length it matches the typical range for: short story and lead magnet ebook or short guide.
- Short story: Under 7,500 words
- Lead magnet ebook or short guide: 5,000 to 15,000 words
Writing it takes about 10 days at 500 words a day, or 5 at 1,000. Typical lengths for every genre are in how many words in a book.
Other word counts
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