How Many Pages Is 400 Words?
1 min read
Short answer
400 words in pages
Times New Roman 12pt with 1-inch margins, the usual academic setup.
| Spacing | US Letter | A4 |
|---|---|---|
| Single spaced | 0.8 pages | 0.8 pages |
| 1.5 spaced | 1.1 pages | 1 page |
| Double spaced | 1.6 pages | 1.5 pages |
By font
US Letter, 1-inch margins. Google Docs starts in Arial 11pt; Word used Calibri 11pt for years before switching to Aptos.
| Font and size | Single spaced | Double spaced |
|---|---|---|
| Times New Roman 12pt | 0.8 | 1.6 |
| Arial 12pt | 0.9 | 1.8 |
| Arial 11pt | 0.8 | 1.5 |
| Calibri 12pt | 0.8 | 1.7 |
| Calibri 11pt | 0.7 | 1.4 |
- Paragraphs
- About 3 (2 to 4, at 100 to 200 words each)
- Characters
- About 2,300 including spaces
- Reading time
- 1 minute 41 seconds at 238 words a minute
- Speaking time
- 2 minutes 40 seconds at 150 words a minute
- Handwritten
- About 1.6 sides of lined paperin average handwriting, about 250 words a side
Check your own numbers
1.6
Pages · double spaced
Every spacing
400 wordsAlso worth knowing
Estimates assume 12pt Times New Roman or Arial with 1-inch margins on US Letter or A4.
400 words is a cover letter
The most common reason to ask about 400 words is a cover letter. Single spaced, 400 words fills most of a page and leaves room for your address block and signature. That is the length most recruiters expect: long enough to show you read the job advert, short enough to read in under two minutes.
A 400-word cover letter, budgeted
| Paragraph | Words | Job |
|---|---|---|
| Opening | 60 | The role, and the one reason you fit it |
| Evidence | 150 | A specific achievement that matches what they need |
| Second piece of evidence | 120 | Another, different strength, with a result |
| Close | 70 | Why this organisation, and a clear next step |
The opening is where most letters waste words. “I am writing to apply for the position of” tells the reader nothing the subject line did not. Start with the reason you are a good match.
Other things that run to 400 words
- A personal statement for a job application form that limits the box to about 2,500 characters. 400 words is roughly 2,300 characters, so it fits with a little room.
- A short report or memo summarising one decision.
- A newsletter lead story, long enough to explain and short enough that people finish it.
Tightening to 400
If your draft is 550 words, you do not need to rewrite every sentence. Cut the paragraph that repeats your CV, the second example of a point that already has one, and adjectives you have not backed up (“passionate”, “dynamic”, “hard-working”). Paste both drafts into compare text to see what went, and check the result reads easily with the readability checker.