How Many Words Is a 2-Page Essay?
By the Logicox team 3 min read
Short answer: a 2-page essay is about 500 words if it is double-spaced, and about 1,000 words if it is single-spaced, using a 12-point font such as Times New Roman or Arial with normal margins.
That is only an estimate. The real number depends on the font, the spacing, the margins and how many short paragraphs or headings you use. If your teacher gave a word limit as well as a page count, the word limit is what counts.
Words per page at a glance
| Pages | Double-spaced | Single-spaced |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 250 | 500 |
| 2 | 500 | 1,000 |
| 3 | 750 | 1,500 |
| 5 | 1,250 | 2,500 |
| 10 | 2,500 | 5,000 |
These figures assume 12-point text and 2.5 cm (1 inch) margins on A4 or US Letter paper.
What changes the count
- Font. Arial and Calibri are wider than Times New Roman, so they fit a little fewer words per page. Courier fits far fewer.
- Font size. 11-point text fits roughly 15% more words than 12-point. 14-point fits about 25% fewer.
- Spacing. 1.5 line spacing sits between the two columns above, at roughly 330 words a page.
- Paragraphs and headings. Every short paragraph leaves white space at the end of its last line. Dialogue and lists use up pages faster than solid text.
Handwritten essays
Handwriting varies far more than type. On ruled A4 paper, most students write between 150 and 250 words a page. Count the words on one full page of your own writing and multiply by the number of pages you need. That figure is more reliable than any average.
How word limits are usually counted
Unless your instructions say otherwise, the word count normally includes the main text, quotations and in-text citations, and leaves out the title, the reference list and any appendix. Many universities allow 10% over or under the limit, but check your course handbook, because some deduct marks for going over at all.
Check your own essay
Paste your essay into the Word Counter. It counts words, sentences and paragraphs as you type, and the Pages (12 pt) line shows how many pages that is single-spaced and double-spaced. It also shows reading time and your most used words, which helps you spot a word you have repeated too often.
If you are writing for a form or an application with a character limit rather than a word limit, use the Character Counter instead, since it counts characters with and without spaces.
Quick tips to hit the target
- Over the limit? Cut phrases such as “it is important to note that” and “in order to”. They add words without adding meaning.
- Under the limit? Add one more example or a counter-argument rather than padding sentences.
- Do not change the font size or margins to fill pages. Teachers notice, and many check the word count anyway.