50,000 words is about 200 pages double-spaced, about 100 pages single-spaced, and roughly 170 to 200 pages as a printed paperback, depending on the trim size and type. The number changes because a page is not a unit of length. It is a container, and containers come in different sizes.
Here is the quick reference, then the reasons behind it.
50,000 words by format
| Format | Words per page | 50,000 words is about |
|---|---|---|
| Manuscript, double-spaced, 12 pt | 250 | 200 pages |
| Word document, single-spaced, 12 pt | 500 | 100 pages |
| 6 × 9 in paperback novel, 11 pt | 300 | 167 pages of text |
| 6 × 9 in nonfiction, 11 pt | 280 | 179 pages of text |
| 5 × 8 in paperback, 10.5 pt | 250 | 200 pages of text |
| 8.5 × 11 in workbook | 400 | 125 pages of text |
| Large print, 16 pt | 160 | 313 pages of text |
For a printed book, add 5 to 10 percent for the title page, copyright page, table of contents and the part-empty pages where chapters begin. A 50,000-word novel set at 6 × 9 inches usually prints at about 175 to 185 pages.
The words-per-page figures are the same ones our word count to pages calculator uses, so you can plug in your exact count.
Other word counts at a glance
| Word count | Double-spaced manuscript | Single-spaced | 6 × 9 in paperback |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30,000 | 120 pages | 60 pages | 100 pages |
| 40,000 | 160 pages | 80 pages | 133 pages |
| 50,000 | 200 pages | 100 pages | 167 pages |
| 60,000 | 240 pages | 120 pages | 200 pages |
| 70,000 | 280 pages | 140 pages | 233 pages |
| 80,000 | 320 pages | 160 pages | 267 pages |
| 90,000 | 360 pages | 180 pages | 300 pages |
| 100,000 | 400 pages | 200 pages | 333 pages |
| 120,000 | 480 pages | 240 pages | 400 pages |
So 80,000 words, a common length for an adult novel, is about 320 manuscript pages or roughly 280 to 295 pages as a 6 × 9 inch paperback once front matter and chapter openings are counted.
Why the page count changes
Pages hold different numbers of words depending on the page size, the type and how the text is laid out. These are the things that move the count most:
- Trim size. A 6 × 9 inch page holds noticeably more than a 5 × 8 inch page at the same type size.
- Font and size. Some typefaces are wider than others at the same point size, and each step up in size costs words per line and lines per page.
- Line spacing. Double-spacing halves the words on a page. That is why manuscripts sent to agents and editors run long.
- Margins. KDP's minimum inside margin grows from 0.375 to 0.875 inches as books get thicker, which shrinks the text area on every page.
- Dialogue. Short lines of speech leave white space at the end of each line, so dialogue-heavy fiction uses more pages per thousand words than dense nonfiction.
- Chapter openings. Most chapters begin on a new page, often partway down it, and the last page of a chapter is rarely full. Twenty chapters can add ten pages.
- Images, worksheets and tables. Each one takes space that words would have filled.
Is 50,000 words long enough for a novel?
Yes. 50,000 words is a novel by the standard definition, though a short one for most adult genres. The Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association (SFWA), whose Nebula Awards are a common reference point, counts any work of 40,000 words or more as a novel, and 17,500 to 40,000 words as a novella.
Typical ranges agents and publishers cite are roughly:
| Category | Typical length |
|---|---|
| Middle grade | 30,000 to 55,000 words |
| Young adult | 50,000 to 80,000 words |
| Romance | 50,000 to 90,000 words |
| Mystery and thriller | 70,000 to 90,000 words |
| Adult general and literary fiction | 70,000 to 100,000 words |
| Science fiction and fantasy | 90,000 to 120,000 words |
Treat these as conventions, not rules. A traditionally published debut adult novel at 50,000 words will usually be asked to grow. A self-published romance, cozy mystery or middle-grade novel at 50,000 words is perfectly normal. Amazon KDP sets no minimum word count, only a minimum of 24 pages for a paperback.
How many chapters is 50,000 words?
Most 50,000-word novels have between 12 and 25 chapters, because chapters commonly run 2,000 to 4,000 words. Fast-paced genres such as thrillers lean toward shorter chapters and more of them. Nonfiction chapters tend to run longer, often 3,000 to 5,000 words.
How long does it take to read or write 50,000 words?
At a typical silent reading speed of about 250 words a minute, 50,000 words takes around 3 hours and 20 minutes to read. Read aloud at about 150 words a minute, as in an audiobook, it runs about 5 and a half hours.
Writing it takes longer. 50,000 words is the target of the well-known November novel-writing challenge, which works out to about 1,667 words a day for 30 days. At 500 words a day, a first draft takes a little over three months.
What about ebooks?
A Kindle ebook has no fixed page count, because the text reflows to fit each reader's screen and font size. Amazon shows an estimated print length on the product page, and books in Kindle Unlimited are measured in Kindle Edition Normalized Pages (KENP), which Amazon calculates from the file itself. Write to a word count, and let the page count follow from whichever edition you are looking at.
Why the page count matters when you publish
For a paperback, page count sets two practical things:
- Printing cost and royalty. KDP charges for printing by page count, so a longer book costs more to print and needs a higher list price to earn the same royalty. Our KDP royalty calculator shows the trade-off.
- Spine width. The spine is the page count multiplied by the paper thickness, and KDP prints text on the spine only for books with more than 79 pages. The KDP cover calculator gives the exact spine and cover size.
For how long a nonfiction ebook should be for its purpose, from lead magnets to full guides, see how long an ebook should be.
Frequently asked questions
How many pages is 50,000 words double-spaced?
About 200 pages, at 12-point type with 1-inch margins and roughly 250 words per page. This is standard manuscript format.
How many pages is 50,000 words single-spaced?
About 100 pages, at 12-point type with 1-inch margins and roughly 500 words per page.
How many pages is 50,000 words in a paperback?
Roughly 170 to 200 pages. A 6 × 9 inch page at 11 points holds about 300 words, which gives 167 pages of text before front matter and chapter openings are added. A smaller 5 × 8 inch page holds about 250 words, which gives about 200 pages of text.
How many pages is 80,000 words?
About 320 pages double-spaced, 160 pages single-spaced, and roughly 280 to 295 pages as a 6 × 9 inch paperback.
Is 50,000 words enough for a book?
Yes. 50,000 words counts as a novel under SFWA's definition of 40,000 words or more, and it is a full-length book for most nonfiction. It is on the short side for adult fiction in many genres, where 70,000 to 100,000 words is more typical.
How long is 50,000 words in hours?
About 3 hours and 20 minutes of silent reading at 250 words a minute, or about 5 and a half hours read aloud at 150 words a minute.