How Many Words Are in a Novel?

Ask ten writers "how many words are in a novel?" and you might get ten different answers. The truth depends entirely on your genre, audience, and publishing path. A cozy mystery runs shorter than an epic fantasy. A middle-grade novel differs from new adult. This guide breaks down standard word counts for every major fiction genre, plus non-fiction memoirs and biographies. For related guidance, Read: How Many Words Are in a Chapter.

The Short Answer

Most published novels fall between 70,000 and 100,000 words. That is roughly 250 to 400 book pages. But asking how many words are in a novel without specifying genre is like asking how long a road trip takes. A drive across town differs from coast to coast.

Agents and acquiring editors use word count as a quick filter. A manuscript that is too short might feel underdeveloped. A manuscript that is too long might feel bloated or expensive to print. Knowing the right range for your genre increases your chances of getting noticed.

Genre-by-Genre Breakdown

Here is the industry standard answer to how many words are in a novel for each major category.

Literary Fiction

Literary fiction typically runs 80,000 to 110,000 words. These novels prioritize character depth and prose quality over plot speed. Debut literary novels on the shorter side (80,000 to 95,000 words) have an easier time finding agents because production costs are lower.

Mystery, Thriller and Crime

These genres demand pacing. Most mysteries and thrillers run 70,000 to 90,000 words. Cozy mysteries often land at the lower end (65,000 to 80,000 words). Legal and historical thrillers sometimes stretch to 100,000 words. So how many words are in a novel for thrillers is short enough to read in a weekend.

Romance

Romance novels span a wide range. Category romance (Harlequin type) runs 50,000 to 70,000 words. Contemporary romance runs 70,000 to 90,000 words. Historical romance runs 90,000 to 110,000 words. Paranormal romance often sits at 85,000 to 100,000 words. The answer to how many words are in a novel for romance depends entirely on the subgenre.

Science Fiction and Fantasy

SFF novels run longer. Worldbuilding takes space. Most sci-fi and fantasy novels run 90,000 to 120,000 words. Epic fantasy can exceed 150,000 words (think George R.R. Martin). Urban fantasy is shorter: 75,000 to 95,000 words. Debut SFF authors should stay under 120,000 words to improve their chances. Understanding how many words are in a novel for fantasy helps you build immersive worlds without overwhelming agents.

Young Adult (YA)

YA novels run shorter than adult fiction. Contemporary YA runs 55,000 to 70,000 words. YA fantasy and sci-fi runs 70,000 to 90,000 words. YA thrillers run 60,000 to 75,000 words. The answer to how many words are in a novel for YA is less than adult fiction but still substantial enough for character growth.

Middle Grade (Ages 8-12)

Middle grade novels are shorter. Lower MG (ages 8-10) runs 20,000 to 35,000 words. Upper MG (ages 10-12) runs 35,000 to 55,000 words. MG fantasy runs longer at 45,000 to 65,000 words. When parents and teachers ask how many words are in a novel for middle graders, the answer is appropriate for developing attention spans.

New Adult (NA)

New Adult sits between YA and adult. Most NA novels run 60,000 to 85,000 words. NA romance and contemporary fiction dominate this category. The category is newer, so standards are still evolving. But how many words are in a novel for NA typically falls in the 70,000-word sweet spot.

Memoirs and Narrative Non-Fiction

Memoirs follow similar ranges to literary fiction: 70,000 to 90,000 words. Narrative non-fiction (history, science, biography) runs longer: 80,000 to 100,000 words. Self-help and business books are often shorter at 45,000 to 70,000 words. So how many words are in a novel doesn't directly apply to non-fiction, but the ranges overlap significantly.

Debut Novels vs. Established Authors

Here is something most guides will not tell you. When asking how many words are in a novel, debut authors face tighter constraints than established writers. Agents and editors take fewer risks on unknown authors. A debut novel that is too long (over 120,000 words) signals an undisciplined writer or expensive production costs.

Once you have published successfully, you earn word count flexibility. Bestselling authors can publish 150,000-word epics because their audience will buy them. Debut authors should stay within genre standards. Know the rules before you break them.

Self-Publishing vs. Traditional Publishing

The answer to how many words are in a novel changes for self-published authors. Ebooks have no printing costs, so length matters less. Many successful self-published authors write longer novels (100,000 to 150,000 words) because readers perceive more value. Others write shorter (50,000 to 60,000 words) to publish more frequently.

The sweet spot for Kindle Unlimited is often 70,000 to 90,000 words. This length qualifies for KU page reads without overwhelming readers. Series of 60,000-word novels can also perform extremely well.

Novellas and Short Stories

Not every book needs to be a novel. If you are asking how many words are in a novel, you might actually be writing a novella or short story collection.

• Short story: 1,000 to 7,500 words
• Novelette: 7,500 to 17,500 words
• Novella: 17,500 to 40,000 words
• Novel: 40,000+ words (though most publishers want 60,000+)

Novellas are popular in romance, sci-fi, and horror. They are also great for Kindle Unlimited. Just know that traditional agents rarely accept novellas from debut authors unless they are exceptional.

Why Word Count Matters to Publishers

You might wonder why publishers care about how many words are in a novel. Three reasons explain this.

• Printing costs: Longer books cost more to print. For a debut author, that is a hard sell.
• Shelf space: Bookstores have limited shelf space. Spine width matters. A 500-page debut takes more space than a 300-page debut.
• Reader expectations: Genre readers expect certain lengths. A 400-page romance might disappoint genre purists who want tighter pacing.

Understanding how many words are in a novel helps you work with the industry, not against it.

Tools to Track Your Novel's Word Count

Several writing tools help you monitor progress.

• Scrivener: Shows word count per chapter and total. Best for novelists.
• Microsoft Word: Status bar shows total words. Select chapters for per-chapter counts.
• Google Docs: Tools > Word Count gives full document stats.
• WordCounter.net: Paste sections for quick analysis.
• ProWritingAid: Tracks word count across multiple documents.

Using these tools makes answering how many words are in a novel effortless during revisions.

When Breaking the Rules Works

Rules exist for a reason, but exceptions prove the rule. Some famous outliers on how many words are in a novel include:

• The Hobbit (J.R.R. Tolkien): 95,000 words
• The Fault in Our Stars (John Green): 67,000 words
• The Old Man and the Sea (Ernest Hemingway): 27,000 words (novella, but won Pulitzer)
• A Game of Thrones (George R.R. Martin): 298,000 words

Notice that most outliers come from established authors or exceptional literary merit. Debut authors break rules at their own risk.

Final Checklist

Before you query agents or self-publish, run through this checklist.

1. ☐ Identify your genre. Look up standard ranges for that specific category.
2. ☐ Compare to comparable titles. How long were debut novels in your genre last year?
3. ☐ Check if you are a debut author. If yes, stay closer to the lower end of your genre's range.
4. ☐ Decide on publishing path. Traditional publishing needs tighter adherence to norms.
5. ☐ Read your manuscript. Does any section drag? Cut it.
6. ☐ Ask beta readers if the book felt too short or too long.
7. ☐ Use a word counter to verify final numbers.

The right answer to how many words are in a novel is the one that serves your story and satisfies your readers.