10,000 words by font and spacing
Font, point size and line spacing move the page count more than anything else. 1-inch margins, US Letter, no headings or images.
| Font | Single | 1.5 lines | Double |
|---|---|---|---|
| Times New Roman 12pt | 20.0 pages | 30.0 pages | 40.0 pages |
| Arial 12pt | 21.6 pages | 32.5 pages | 43.3 pages |
| Calibri 11pt | 16.7 pages | 25.0 pages | 33.3 pages |
| Verdana 12pt | 25.0 pages | 37.5 pages | 50.0 pages |
Estimates for continuous prose; headings, quotes and a reference list add length on top.
How long does 10,000 words take to read or say?
Silent reading (238 wpm): about 43 min. Read aloud (183 wpm): about 55 min, the number to plan a speech against.
What 10,000 words looks like in practice
- This is a full dissertation chapter, a master's thesis section, or the length of a long-form magazine investigation: 10,000-word features are a recognized format at outlets like The Atlantic and The New Yorker.
- A short nonfiction book's opening section, or a comprehensive technical report covering a full project, commonly reaches this length.
- That is forty times the 250-word Common App minimum this list starts at, and double the 5,000-word term paper length above it.
- Almost nobody delivers this out loud in one sitting: scripted speeches rarely pass 2,000 words even for a long keynote, a fifth of this count.
Writing to 10,000 words in a different font, size or margin? The words to pages calculator runs this same math for any setting. Check your real count first with the word counter.
FAQ
How many pages is 10,000 words single spaced?
About 20 pages in Times New Roman 12pt with 1-inch margins, or 21.6 pages in Arial 12pt. The exact figure moves with your font, size, spacing and margins: use the calculator above for your own document.
How many pages is 10,000 words double spaced?
About 40 pages in Times New Roman 12pt with 1-inch margins, or 43.3 pages in Arial 12pt. Double spacing is the default most US and Canadian schools ask for; single spacing is the norm for cover letters and business writing.
How long does it take to read or say 10,000 words?
About 43 min of silent reading at 238 words per minute, the adult average for English non-fiction, or 55 min read aloud at 183 words per minute. Both are averages: time yourself once against the clock if the length is being delivered live.