Book Page Count From Word Count Calculator

Work out book page count from word count instantly with clear inputs, formula shown and shareable results.

About Book Page Count From Word Count Calculator

Body pages are the word count divided by words per page, front and back matter is added, and the total is rounded up to a whole number of sixteen page signatures. Presses fold in signatures of sixteen, so a book of 305 pages is printed as 320 and the extra pages are paid for whether they carry text or not.

Formulas

Body pages

pages = ceiling(word count / words per page)

Printed pages

printed = ceiling(total pages / 16) x 16

Worked example

With the default values below, Book Page Count From Word Count Calculator returns Printed page count of 304. Change any input above and every figure here is recalculated in your browser.

Inputs used

Manuscript word countminimum 1: 80,000
Words per typeset pageminimum 1: 280
Front and back matter pagesminimum 0: 12

Results

Printed page count: 304
Pages of body text: 286
Sixteen page signatures: 19
Blank pages to fill the last signature: 6

Step by step

1Values used
2Body pages
3Printed pages
4Printed page count= 304
5Pages of body text= 286
6Sixteen page signatures= 19
7Blank pages to fill the last signature= 6

Assumptions and limits

The result is derived only from the 3 inputs listed above. Anything not among them is not part of the calculation.
In particular, this calculator does not take inflation, tax, fees or charges or compounding frequency into account.
Figures are rounded for display to whole numbers, so totals built from several rounded parts can differ slightly from the unrounded arithmetic.

How these calculators are built and tested is described on the Methodology page. If a figure looks wrong, please report it.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is the Book Page Count From Word Count figure worked out?

pages = ceiling(word count / words per page). Body pages are the word count divided by words per page, front and back matter is added, and the total is rounded up to a whole number of sixteen page signatures.

Why does this matter?

Presses fold in signatures of sixteen, so a book of 305 pages is printed as 320 and the extra pages are paid for whether they carry text or not.

What do I need to enter?

Enter manuscript word count, words per typeset page, front and back matter pages. The defaults shown are a realistic worked example — swap in your own figures to get a result you can use.