400 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 | 0.8 pages | 1.2 pages | 1.6 pages |
| Arial 12pt | 0.9 pages | 1.3 pages | 1.7 pages |
| Calibri 11pt | 0.7 pages | 1.0 page | 1.3 pages |
| Verdana 12pt | 1.0 page | 1.5 pages | 2.0 pages |
Estimates for continuous prose; headings, quotes and a reference list add length on top.
How long does 400 words take to read or say?
Silent reading (238 wpm): about 2 min. Read aloud (183 wpm): about 3 min, the number to plan a speech against.
What 400 words looks like in practice
- This sits at the upper end of the 250 to 400-word range most hiring guides recommend for a one-page cover letter.
- It is also roughly a page and a half of a formal resignation or notice letter: room to state a last day and a reason without padding either out.
- A typical college application supplemental essay, the shorter add-on kind schools layer on top of the Common App, often runs anywhere from 100 to this many words.
- One step down the list, at 300 words, is the Common App's own Additional Information cap, so 400 already runs a third longer than that.
Writing to 400 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 400 words single spaced?
About 0.8 pages in Times New Roman 12pt with 1-inch margins, or 0.9 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 400 words double spaced?
About 1.6 pages in Times New Roman 12pt with 1-inch margins, or 1.7 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 400 words?
About 2 min of silent reading at 238 words per minute, the adult average for English non-fiction, or 3 min read aloud at 183 words per minute. Both are averages: time yourself once against the clock if the length is being delivered live.