5,000 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 | 10.0 pages | 15.0 pages | 20.0 pages |
| Arial 12pt | 10.8 pages | 16.2 pages | 21.6 pages |
| Calibri 11pt | 8.3 pages | 12.5 pages | 16.7 pages |
| Verdana 12pt | 12.5 pages | 18.8 pages | 25.0 pages |
Estimates for continuous prose; headings, quotes and a reference list add length on top.
How long does 5,000 words take to read or say?
Silent reading (238 wpm): about 22 min. Read aloud (183 wpm): about 28 min, the number to plan a speech against.
What 5,000 words looks like in practice
- This is a term paper or a short dissertation chapter, and the length several UK and Australian university modules set as an upper cap.
- A long-form magazine investigation or a detailed case study report often runs to about this length once every section is drafted.
- That is twenty times the 250-word Common App minimum at the top of this list, and half of the 10,000-word long-read at the bottom of it.
- Drop a thousand words and you are back at the 4,000-word mark, which gets confused with the UCAS 4,000-character personal statement limit far more often than any other count here.
Writing to 5,000 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 5,000 words single spaced?
About 10 pages in Times New Roman 12pt with 1-inch margins, or 10.8 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 5,000 words double spaced?
About 20 pages in Times New Roman 12pt with 1-inch margins, or 21.6 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 5,000 words?
About 22 min of silent reading at 238 words per minute, the adult average for English non-fiction, or 28 min read aloud at 183 words per minute. Both are averages: time yourself once against the clock if the length is being delivered live.