How Many Words Should A Novel Be? A Writer’s Guide To Word Counts
How many words should a novel be? Learn about word counts, how long your novel should be, and see examples to help plan your manuscript.
How Many Words Should A Novel Be?
The Short Answer: Aim For 80,000 Words
Before we look at the numbers, remember this: you can write a novel of any length. There are no rules that say a story must contain a certain number of words to be successful.
However, if you are a first-time author hoping to attract agents, publishers, or readers, understanding typical word counts can improve your chances. Word count is not about limiting creativity. It is about understanding reader expectations, publishing costs, and the conventions of the market you want to enter.
For most adult fiction, a good target is 80,000 to 90,000 words.
Why Word Count Matters
Readers have expectations. Agents and publishers receive thousands of manuscripts every year. A word count tells them something about the scope of your story and whether it fits within the expectations of its genre.
A first-time novelist submitting a manuscript of 150,000 words may immediately raise questions. Is the story complex enough to need that length? Does the writer understand pacing? Could it be edited down?
Of course, there are exceptions. Some debut authors publish long novels, but they are the exception rather than the rule.
For most new writers, a focused novel of around 80,000 words is a more realistic goal.
Publishers Consider Cost And Practicality
Publishers are not trying to make writing more difficult by suggesting word counts. They understand the business side of books.
Longer books cost more to edit, proofread, print, distribute, and sell. They also require a greater commitment from readers. A 500-page novel is a bigger investment of time and money than a 350-page novel.
A well-paced 80,000-word manuscript usually creates a comfortable-length book that is affordable to produce and approachable for readers.
[If you want to know how many words you should write every day, read: The Daily Word Counts Of 39 Famous Authors]
A Real-Life Word Count Example: Harry Potter
J.K. Rowling’s first novel was fewer than 80 000 words. The length of her Harry Potter books increased with her fame.
- Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone – 76 944 words
- Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets – 85 141 words
- Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban – 107 253 words
- Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire – 190 637 words
- Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix – 257 045 words
- Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince – 168 923 words
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – 198 227 words
The lesson? Established authors can often break the usual guidelines because readers already trust them. New writers usually need to earn that trust first.
Average Novel Word Counts By Genre
| Type of Book | Typical Word Count |
|---|---|
| Adult mainstream and literary fiction | 80,000–90,000 words |
| Category romance | 50,000–90,000 words |
| Science fiction and fantasy | 90,000–120,000 words |
| Young adult fiction | 55,000–80,000 words |
| Memoir | 60,000–80,000 words |
A Writer’s Guide To Word Counts
1. Adult Literary And Mainstream Fiction
For most adult fiction, aim for 80,000 to 90,000 words. This range works well for mainstream fiction, including new adult, women’s fiction, crime, mystery, suspense and thriller, and horror.
A novel can certainly be shorter or longer. A manuscript between 70,000 and 110,000 words may still work, depending on the story. But this is out of the average range.
A debut novel pushing beyond 120,000 words needs a strong reason to justify its length. Every scene and chapter must earn its place. It is very rare for a crime or a love story to need to push on beyond the 110 000-word ‘epic’ mark.
2. Category Romances
Category romance novels are usually shorter, often between 55,000 and 75,000 words.
Publishers like Harlequin and Mills&Boon have specific submission guidelines, so writers should always check requirements before submitting.
Romance readers expect a fast-paced story with a strong emotional focus, which is one reason these books tend to be shorter.
3. Science Fiction And Fantasy
Science fiction and fantasy often allow for longer novels because these stories may require worldbuilding, complex plots, and detailed settings.
For a first-time author, 90,000 to 100,000 words is usually a safer range. Longer manuscripts are possible, but they are easier to sell once an author has established a readership.
Many successful fantasy authors began with shorter books. George R.R. Martin‘s early novel Dying of the Light was much shorter than his later epic works, and Stephen King‘s debut novel Carrie was only around 199 pages. Tolkien‘s The Hobbit was 95 356 words (see below).
4. Young Adult Fiction
Young adult fiction is flexible, but a good target for first-time authors is 55,000 to 80,000 words.
Some YA novels reach 100,000 words, especially in fantasy, science fiction, and paranormal fiction. However, longer lengths are common among established authors.
YA readers appreciate quicker pacing, so every chapter needs to move the story forward.
5. Memoirs
Memoirs are usually between 60,000 and 80,000 words. A common mistake new memoir writers make is trying to include every important moment from their lives. A memoir is not a complete autobiography—it is a focused story built around a theme, transformation, or experience.
Frequently Asked Questions About Novel Word Counts
1. How many words is the average novel?
Most adult novels are between 80,000 and 90,000 words. However, the ideal length depends on the type of book you are writing and the expectations of your readers.
2. Can a debut novel be too long?
Yes. While there are exceptions, first-time authors often face more challenges when submitting very long manuscripts. A focused story between 80,000 and 100,000 words is usually easier for agents and publishers to consider.
3. How many pages is an 80,000-word novel?
An 80,000-word novel is usually around 320–360 pages, depending on formatting, font size, trim size, and spacing.
4. Can a novel be too short?
Yes. A very short novel may feel underdeveloped if it does not give characters, conflict, and themes enough room to grow. However, some powerful novels are short on purpose.
5. Should I finish my first draft before worrying about word count?
Not always. Having a target word count can help you plan your story, but your first priority should be completing a strong draft. You can always revise and edit the length later.
The Last Word
Understanding word count helps writers set realistic goals, shape their stories, and create manuscripts that meet reader and publishing expectations. While every novel is unique, choosing an appropriate length can help you develop your plot, maintain pacing, and give your story the space it needs to succeed. Use word count to guide you towards a complete novel.
by Amanda Patterson
© Amanda Patterson
More posts from Amanda:
- What Is A Novel Outline? 5 Strong Reasons To Outline Your Novel Before You Start Writing
- What Is A Good Daily Word Count? Lessons From 39 Famous Authors
- 10 Life-Changing Benefits Of Reading More Books
- The Author’s Promise: The Two Things Every Writer Owes Their Reader
- Why Every Story Needs Consequences
- Scenes And Sequels: The Writer’s Guide To Stronger Story Structure
- 50 Motivational Writing Quotes To Inspire You
- The Writer’s Guide To Good Description: 10 Mistakes To Avoid
- 10 Powerful Cliffhangers Every Writer Should Know
- How To Write A Vignette (With Examples)
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12 thoughts on “How Many Words Should A Novel Be? A Writer’s Guide To Word Counts”
No wonder The Order of the Phoenix is my favorite. It is roughly the same size as my first novel, MOREVI. ;^)
For my non-fiction book, I was aiming for 50,000 words. With images, it worked out about 270 pages, which is pretty good for a business book.
Thanks for this info. I really didn’t know this, and it seems my work is already too long. Now I’ll give breaking it up into two books more thought.
It’s a pleasure, Dianne.
I just don’t think my YA work will be long enough. What can an aspiring writer do if the story is finished? The finished draft is a little over 45,000 words. I’m afraid if I try and add something else, it will take away from the story.
This is some great information.
Thank you, Brooklen.
Neen, It’s okay to have a story, not a novel. some people prefer shorter books, find an editor and publisher that like the same things you do and It’s likely that once it’s edited, revised, looked over and edited again, it’ll be different so don’t worry.
Well I just finished writing my first novel which is just 25000 words but now I noticed that I still have a long way to go to get the book a good publication but either way I still need some guidance and a mentor. Please help I need someone I can communicate with.
For new / aspiring novelists, this is very helpful information I have not seen elsewhere. I am linking to it from from Newbie Novelists’ Links page which already links to a number of other Writers Write articles.
Congratulations to all the staff. Your articles are consistently well done.
Thank you, Linnie.
so I suppose it’s very bad that my first book out of trilogy ( at least) has over 600K words ? …
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