KDP page count estimator
KDP Page Count Estimator: words to pages
A 6" x 9" paperback set in 11-point Times New Roman with 1.3 line spacing holds about 355 words per page, so an 80,000-word manuscript runs about 242 pages with front matter and chapter breaks. Change the trim, font, size and spacing below and carry the result into the cover calculator.
Estimated page count
242
rounded up to an even number, as KDP does
Words per page
355
36 lines x 11.6 words
Body pages
236
including chapter openings
Gutter margin used
0.5"
KDP's inside margin for this page count
An estimate, typically within 10% of the typeset result. Headings, block quotes, images and part pages add pages; tight leading removes them.
How the estimate works
This is a typographic estimate, not a KDP figure. It measures the text block left after KDP's margins, counts the lines that fit at your leading, and fills each line with average English words at the font's average character width, allowing for short last lines and dialogue.
text width = trim width - inside (gutter) margin - 0.75" outside margin
text height = trim height - 0.875" top - 0.875" bottom (running head and page number)
lines per page = text height / (font size x line spacing)
words per page = lines x words per line x 0.85 line fill
The gutter follows KDP's rule: 0.375" for 24-150 pages, 0.5" for 151-300 pages, 0.625" for 301-500 pages, 0.75" for 501-700 pages, 0.875" for 701-828 pages. See the margin table.
Words per page by trim size and point size
Times New Roman, 1.3 line spacing, KDP margins for a 250 to 300 page book. Use it to sanity-check any estimate.
| Trim size | 10 pt | 11 pt | 12 pt |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5" x 8" | 291 | 233 | 193 |
| 5.25" x 8" | 311 | 249 | 207 |
| 5.5" x 8.5" | 359 | 291 | 243 |
| 6" x 9" | 434 | 355 | 298 |
| 7" x 10" | 591 | 490 | 416 |
| 8.5" x 11" | 859 | 705 | 580 |
Frequently asked questions
- How many words are on a page of a KDP paperback?
- About 355 words per page for a 6 x 9 book set in 11-point Times New Roman with 1.3 line spacing. Smaller trims, larger type or looser leading push it down toward 250; 5 x 8 at 10 point with tight leading gets close to 400.
- How many pages is 80,000 words?
- Roughly 242 pages at 6 x 9 in 11-point Times New Roman, including 6 pages of front matter and 20 chapter openings. The same manuscript at 5.5 x 8.5 runs longer, at 7 x 10 shorter.
- Why does my Word page count differ from this estimate?
- Word's default page is 8.5 x 11 with 1-inch margins and 1.15 spacing, which holds far more words than a book page. Set your document to the actual trim size and KDP's margins before trusting Word's count.
- Does KDP count pages or sheets?
- Pages. Every side of every sheet counts, including blanks. KDP rounds the count up to an even number, which is why this estimator does the same.
- What page count do I need for spine text?
- KDP prints spine text only on books with 80 pages or more. If the estimate lands below that, plan for a blank spine or a larger point size and trim that pushes you past 80.