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Manuscript Word Count

Paste your text and see word count, page estimates by trim size, reading time, and paragraph statistics — instantly.

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Word Count

0 words
Characters (with spaces): 0
Characters (no spaces): 0
Sentences: 0
Paragraphs: 0

Reading Time

0 min
Slow reader (200 wpm) 0 min
Average reader (250 wpm) 0 min
Fast reader (300 wpm) 0 min
Audiobook (150 wpm) 0 min

Page Estimates by Trim Size

Trim Size Est. Pages Printing Cost* Spine Width
5″ × 8″ 0
5.25″ × 8″ 0
5.5″ × 8.5″ 0
6″ × 9″ 0
8.5″ × 11″ 0

*Printing costs estimated for cream paper, B&W, paperback via KDP.

Genre Comparison

See where your word count falls relative to typical genre ranges.

Romance
60K–80K
Mystery/Thriller
70K–90K
Literary Fiction
70K–100K
Fantasy/Sci-Fi
90K–120K
Memoir
60K–90K
Nonfiction
40K–80K
YA
55K–80K

These are estimates, not page counts.

The table above divides your word count by an average words-per-page number. But real page count depends on decisions you haven't made yet:

Font choice
±15%
Line spacing
±12%
Margins
±8%
Chapter breaks
+5–20 pages

An 80,000-word novel might be 280 pages or 340 pages — the difference between a $4.12 print cost and a $4.90 print cost, a spine that fits text or doesn't, and a book that feels right for your genre or doesn't. You won't know the real number until you actually typeset the book.

Cambric shows you the real page count.

Import your .docx, choose a template, pick your trim size — and see the actual typeset page count. Not a formula. Not a words-per-page estimate. Your real manuscript, with your real font, margins, and chapter openings, rendered into actual pages you can preview before uploading to KDP or IngramSpark.

Get Cambric — $199 One-time purchase. Your files stay on your machine.
Reference

Word counts by genre

Genre Typical Range Sweet Spot
Romance 60,000–80,000 65,000–75,000
Mystery/Thriller 70,000–90,000 75,000–85,000
Fantasy 90,000–150,000 95,000–110,000
Sci-Fi 90,000–120,000 90,000–100,000
Literary Fiction 70,000–100,000 75,000–90,000
Memoir 60,000–90,000 70,000–80,000
Nonfiction 40,000–80,000 50,000–70,000
YA 55,000–80,000 60,000–70,000
Middle Grade 25,000–50,000 30,000–40,000
Picture Book 500–1,000 500–800

Frequently Asked Questions

How many words are in a typical novel?
Most novels are 70,000–90,000 words. Romance and mystery tend toward 60,000–80,000. Epic fantasy and sci-fi run 100,000–150,000. Literary fiction averages 70,000–100,000. Young adult is typically 55,000–80,000.
How many pages is 80,000 words?
About 280–320 pages at 5.5″×8.5″ with standard formatting (11pt font, 1.3× line spacing). Page count varies with trim size: ~340 pages at 5″×8″, ~230 pages at 6″×9″. Use this tool to see estimates for every popular trim size.
How long does it take to read a 300-page book?
The average adult reads about 250 words per minute. An 80,000-word book takes about 5.3 hours to read. Nonfiction is typically read slower (~200 wpm) and light fiction faster (~300 wpm).
What's the ideal word count for my genre?
Romance: 60K–80K. Mystery/Thriller: 70K–90K. Fantasy/Sci-Fi: 90K–120K. Literary Fiction: 70K–100K. Memoir: 60K–90K. Nonfiction: 40K–80K. YA: 55K–80K. These are guidelines, not rules.
How do publishers count words?
Publishers count every word in the manuscript, including chapter headings, front matter, and back matter. Most word processors count the same way. The industry standard is the total word count of the .docx or manuscript file.
Stop Estimating

Word count ≠ page count.
Cambric shows you the real number.

Import your manuscript, choose your template and trim size, and see the exact typeset page count — with your fonts, margins, and chapter openings. What you see is what prints.

One-time purchase · macOS & Windows · Your files never leave your machine