Book page count calculator
Turn your word count into an estimated page count for any KDP trim size, measured with a real book typesetter, then get your spine width and margins.
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How this estimate works
Most page-count calculators use one fixed “words per page” number. Real books don't work like that: the trim size, type size, margins and dialogue all change how much fits on a page, and every chapter opening adds space.
So we measured it. We set test manuscripts in Pressetter's own typesetter at seven trim sizes and three type sizes, with Pressetter's standard margins and line spacing, and fitted a formula to the results. It matches the real page counts within about 4%. Each chapter adds about 1.35 pages, because chapters start on a right-hand page with space above the title.
Your book will differ a little with a different font or layout, so treat this as a planning number. For the exact count, typeset the book (Pressetter's free preview tells you) and use that for your cover.
Typical words per page
With 11 pt type and comfortable margins, about 315 words fit on a 5″ × 8″ page, 380 on 5.5″ × 8.5″, and 450 on 6″ × 9″. Dialogue-heavy fiction fits about 5 to 10% fewer, because short lines leave white space.
Writing in Google Docs?
Pressetter typesets your Google Doc into a KDP-ready paperback PDF and a Kindle eBook, then tells you your exact page count, spine width and cover size. The check and a full watermarked preview are free.
Questions
How many pages is an 80,000-word novel?
At 6″ × 9″ with 11 pt type, 30 chapters and some dialogue, about 236 pages. At 5.5″ × 8.5″ it's about 270, and at 5″ × 8″ about 316. The trim size and type size make a big difference.
How many words fit on a 6×9 page?
About 450 words at 11 pt with comfortable margins, about 550 at 10 pt and about 380 at 12 pt. Dialogue-heavy pages hold 5 to 10% fewer.
Why does page count matter for my cover?
Your spine width is your page count times the paper thickness, so the cover can't be finished until the page count is final. Use this estimate for planning, then recalculate from your typeset PDF.