How many words is a novel? A novel typically contains 70,000 to 100,000 words, but the exact length depends on the genre, audience, and publishing goals. Some novels are shorter, while others can exceed 120,000 words.
A words-to-pages calculator can help estimate manuscript length based on formatting and spacing.
Average Novel Word Count by Genre
| Genre | Word Count |
|---|---|
| Romance | 50,000–90,000 |
| Mystery/Thriller | 70,000–100,000 |
| Fantasy/Sci-Fi | 90,000–120,000 |
| Literary Fiction | 70,000–100,000 |
| Young Adult | 50,000–80,000 |
Publishing platform like Reedsy often discuss common novel length expectations by genre and audience.
Why Novel Word Count Matters
Example:
Novel word count matters because publishers, readers, and genres all have different expectations. A fantasy novel may be much longer than a romance novel, while young adult novels are often shorter and faster paced.
Writers who stay within common word count ranges may have an easier time with pacing, editing, and publishing expectations.
What Is Considered a Novel?
A novel is typically defined as a long-form work of fiction with a word count of at least 50,000 words. Anything shorter may be considered a novella or short story.
Novel vs. Novella vs. Short Story
Different types of fiction are often grouped by word count.
| Type | Typical Word Count |
|---|---|
| Short Story | Under 7,500 |
| Novella | 10,000–40,000 |
| Novel | 50,000+ |
This can help writers understand where their manuscript fits before publishing or submitting work.
How Long Does It Take to Write a Novel?
Writing a novel can take several months to several years depending on writing habits, genre, editing, and publishing goals.
Factors that affect writing time include:
- daily writing consistency
- research requirements
- editing and revisions
- outlining and planning
- total target word count
Many writers use word count goals to stay motivated and track progress over time.
Common First Draft Word Count Goals
Example:
Some writers set daily or weekly writing goals while drafting a novel.
Examples include:
- 500 words per day
- 1,000 words per day
- NaNoWriMo goal → 50,000 words in 30 days
Tracking progress with writing tools can help writers stay on schedule.
Estimate Your Writing Progress
Use tools like the Word and Character Counter to track your writing progress and stay on target.
FAQ
What is the minimum word count for a novel? Most publishers consider 50,000 words the minimum for a novel.
Can a novel be 40,000 words? At 40,000 words, a book is usually considered a novella rather than a full novel.
How Many Words Is a Novel? Related Guides
- How Many Words Is a Short Story
- How Many Words Is a Children’s Book
- How Many Words Is a Dissertation
Helpful Writing Tools
These writing tools can help authors track novel length, estimate page count, and improve readability while writing a manuscript.
• Word & Character Counter — track manuscript progress and total word count
• Words to Pages Calculator — estimate novel page length
• Reading Time Calculator — estimate reading time for chapters or drafts
• Reading Level Checker — analyze readability and audience level