Average Word Count in a Book
The average word count in a book is between 60,000 and 100,000 words. Novellas are usually 20,000 to 50,000 words. Otherwise, books longer than 100k words are classed as an epic (or too long by a publisher if 120,000 words!). Whereas, fantasy / sci-fi books can be up to 150,000 words.
See below if you would like to know how many words are on an average page of a book or how many words is a 300-page book / how many pages in a 90,000-word novel, for example.
See below if you would like to know how many words are on an average page of a book or how many words is a 300-page book / how many pages in a 90,000-word novel, for example.
There are always exceptions to the rules – especially for authors with a track record of sales – but to follow is a guideline of the average word count lengths for books, ebooks, short stories and everything in between.
- Picture books: The standard is 32 pages and could be one line per page, therefore a total of 350-600 words.
- Flash fiction: Also known as microfiction, microstories, short-shorts, and nanofiction are usually less than 1,000 words.
- Short stories: 1,000-7,500 words.
- Magazine stories: 1,500-2,000 words.
- Ebook: For website visitors or to subscribe to content 3,000-6,000 words.
- Kindle singles: 5,000 words (short story) or 30,000 words (novella).
- Novelette: A short novel, typically one that is light, romantic, sentimental, a narrative piece or prose fiction is 7,500-20,000 words.
- Novella: A short novel or a long short story is between 20,000-50,000 words.
- Middle grade: Ages 9-12 are 25,000-45,000 words.
- Young adult novel: Ages 12-18 on average 40,000-60,000 words.
- Self-help and How-to Guides: Usually 40,000-50,000 words.
- Memoir: Established authors can get away with shorter word counts, but the average is 65,000-90,000 words.
- Novel: Mainstream women’s, romantic, mystery, suspense, literary, thriller, and horror books are usually 60,000-90,000 words. (More recently, longer word counts of 100,000 to 120,000 are becoming more common by some publishers.)
- Epic: Sci-fi and fantasy are 100,000-125,000 words (but can be up to 150,000 words).
These word counts are not set in stone, so there are variations and exceptions. But these guidelines are a useful reference when deciding which category your manuscript fits or how long your short story, novella or epic novel should be.
How many words are on an average page of a book?
- When writing your manuscript, there are around 250-300 words per page for the average book size.
How many words is a 300-page book? / How many pages in a 90,000-word novel?
- If you’re writing a 90,000-word novel, this will equate to around 300 pages.
How do I work out the page length of my book?
If you'd like to work out the page length of your book when it's published, divide the word count by 300.
See All Blog Posts on marketing your book and self-publishing information.
If you'd like to work out the page length of your book when it's published, divide the word count by 300.
- 7,500 words = 25 pages (short story)
- 20,000 words = 66 pages (novella)
- 40,000 words = 133 pages (self-help book)
- 50,000 words = 166 pages (young adult novel, for example)
- 75,000 words = 250 pages (average length fiction novel or memoir)
- 100,000 words = 333 pages (longer fiction novel)
- 125,000 words = 400 pages (sci-fi/fantasy novel)
See All Blog Posts on marketing your book and self-publishing information.
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