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how many pages is 500 words double spaced

For a typical academic-style document, 500 words double spaced is about 2 pages with standard settings.

Quick Scoop

Fast answer

  • With standard formatting (Times New Roman or Arial, 12 pt, 1-inch margins, double spacing), 500 words usually fills about 2 full pages.
  • This comes from the common rule of thumb that a double-spaced page holds roughly 250 words.

Why it can vary a bit

Even though “2 pages” is the go-to estimate, the exact page count can shift depending on:

  • Font choice: Times New Roman is slightly more compact than Arial or Calibri, so the same 500 words may be a bit under 2 pages in Times New Roman and slightly over in Arial/Calibri.
  • Font size: Bumping from 12 pt to 11 pt squeezes more text per page; 13 pt does the opposite.
  • Margins: Shrinking margins below 1 inch reduces page count; widening them increases it.
  • Extras: Headings, blank lines, bullet lists, and wide paragraph spacing spread the same 500 words across a bit more space.

A simple way to think about it: if your setup matches what teachers usually require (12 pt, 1-inch margins, double spaced), you can safely plan for roughly two pages for a 500-word assignment.

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