Enter your manuscript word count, choose your KDP trim size, font and margins, and get an estimated paperback page count. You also get the spine width for white and cream paper. Everything runs in your browser, so nothing you type is stored or sent anywhere.
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How word count turns into page count
A printed page holds a fixed amount of text, so your page count is mostly your word count divided by the number of words that fit on one page. The catch is that “words per page” is not a fixed number. It depends on your trim size, font, line spacing and margins. A 6 x 9 novel set in a compact serif at 12 pt typically fits somewhere around 340 words per page, while a 5 x 8 book with the same settings fits closer to 270.
This calculator works out the text block from your choices. It takes the trim size, subtracts the margins, divides the height by your line spacing to get lines per page, estimates how many words fit on each line from the font size and typeface style, and then applies a layout factor because paragraph endings, dialogue and headings never fill a line completely. Front matter and chapter openings are added on top, and the total is rounded up to an even number because printed pages come in pairs.
A worked example
Take an 80,000-word novel at 6 x 9, 12 pt compact serif, 1.4 line spacing, 0.75 in margins, 8 front and back matter pages and 25 chapters that each start on a new page. The tool estimates about 232 body pages and 254 printed pages in total, which gives a spine of roughly 0.57 in on white paper and 0.64 in on cream. Move the same book to 5.5 x 8.5 and the estimate rises to about 298 pages, because each page holds fewer words. Drop to 11 pt with 1.3 line spacing at 6 x 9 and it falls to about 206 pages.
Why this is an estimate
Only your formatted file can give the exact count. Real books are shaped by hyphenation, scene breaks, drop caps, running heads and the exact font you choose, none of which a calculator can see. Use this tool to plan: to decide on a trim size, to guess the spine width before your cover designer asks, or to check whether a longer font size will push you past a price tier. When you have your formatted PDF, trust its page count and use the KDP Spine Width & Cover Size Calculator with the real number.
KDP limits worth knowing
- Minimum length. KDP paperbacks need at least 24 pages.
- Inside margin grows with length. KDP’s minimum inside (gutter) margin is 0.375 in for 24 to 150 pages, 0.5 in for 151 to 300, 0.625 in for 301 to 500, 0.75 in for 501 to 700 and 0.875 in for 701 to 828.
- Outside margins. At least 0.25 in without bleed and at least 0.375 in with bleed.
- Spine text. KDP recommends adding spine text only on books with 79 or more pages.
- Spine formula. Spine width is the page count times 0.002252 in for white paper and 0.0025 in for cream.
These figures come from KDP Help and were last checked on October 7, 2026. KDP can change them, so confirm on the official KDP Help pages before you upload. If you are still choosing a trim size, our guide to KDP trim sizes compares the options, and the KDP paperback cover size guide explains how the page count feeds into your cover dimensions. More tools for authors are on the Free Tools hub.
Frequently asked questions
How many words is a 300-page book?
It depends on the layout. At 6 x 9 with 12 pt type and 0.75 in margins, 300 pages is roughly 85,000 to 95,000 words once front matter and chapter breaks are counted. A 5 x 8 book needs far fewer words to reach 300 pages, and an 8.5 x 11 workbook needs far more. Enter your own settings above to see your number.
Is this calculator free?
Yes, it is free with no sign-up. It runs in your browser and none of your numbers are saved or sent anywhere.
Does this work for ebooks?
No. Ebooks reflow to fit each reader’s screen and font size, so they have no fixed page count. This tool is for print pages and for working out your paperback spine width.
How accurate is the estimate?
It is a planning estimate and can be off by several pages in either direction. The exact count comes from your formatted PDF, so treat this as a guide until you have one.
What is the standard manuscript page?
By long-standing convention, a double-spaced manuscript in 12 pt Times New Roman with 1 in margins holds about 250 words per page. Agents and editors still use it, but it describes a submission format and says nothing about how many pages your printed book will have.