Font size is the boss of word count. A book printed in tiny 9-point font will cram 400+ words per page. One in giant 14-point font? You’ll be lucky to get 150 words. It’s like comparing a sardine can to a beach ball.
Then we have margins. Wide margins are like a lazy river—words float around with lots of white space. Tight margins are a Tokyo subway during rush hour. More words fit, but nobody’s comfortable.
And the invisible villain? Paragraph length and dialogue. Short paragraphs with lots of one-line conversations (hello, thriller novels!) dramatically cut word count per page. Long, dense paragraphs from a Victorian novel? You’re looking at 350 words easy.
The Genre Cheat Sheet
Picture books are the ultimate outliers. They might have 50 words per page—or less. That’s because the pictures are doing the heavy lifting. (And let’s be honest, the author is just writing elevator pitch for illustrations.)
Thrillers and YA novels often use generous spacing and short chapters to create a “fast read” feel. You can expect 200–250 words per page. It’s designed to make you feel like a speed demon.
Pin by Sarah Shea on Writing | Novels, Writing, Books
Non-fiction and textbooks are the opposite. They pack in 350–400 words per page, often with smaller fonts and denser paragraphs. You’re not meant to fly through them; you’re meant to suffer—I mean, learn.
