- Home
- Word count guides
- Five-paragraph essay
How many words is a five-paragraph essay?
A five-paragraph essay is usually 500 to 750 words: two to three double-spaced pages, with an introduction, three body paragraphs and a conclusion.
Work it out
pages, single-spaced, Arial 12 pt, about 500 words a page
- Handwritten pages
- 2
- Reading time
- 2 min 6 sec
- Speaking time
- 3 min 20 sec–3 min 51 sec
- Typing time
- 13 min
- Paragraphs
- 3–5
- Sentences
- 25–33
- Characters with spaces
- about 3,000
Write it in the word counter with a goal of at least 500 words.
Open the word counterFive-paragraph essay in pages and minutes
| Length | Single-spaced | Double-spaced | Reading time | Speaking time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 500 words | 1 | 2 | 2 min 6 sec | 3 min 20 sec–3 min 51 sec |
| 750 words | 1.5 | 3 | 3 min 9 sec | 5 min–5 min 46 sec |
Estimates for US Letter or A4 with 1-inch (2.54 cm) margins and ordinary paragraphs; reading at 238 words a minute, speaking at 130 to 150.
Word budget per paragraph
| Paragraph | 500-word essay | 750-word essay |
|---|---|---|
| Introduction and thesis | 75 | 100 |
| Body 1 | 115 | 180 |
| Body 2 | 115 | 180 |
| Body 3 | 115 | 180 |
| Conclusion | 80 | 110 |
The body paragraphs carry the argument, so they get most of the words. Each one makes one point, supports it with evidence and explains how it supports the thesis.
Beyond five paragraphs
The five-paragraph form is a training structure. University essays rarely use it, because real arguments seldom split into exactly three equal points. Once you can write one well, let the number of paragraphs follow the argument. See words per paragraph.
Questions and answers
How many words is a five-paragraph essay?
Usually 500 to 750 words, depending on the assignment.
How many sentences in each paragraph?
About five to eight in the body paragraphs, three to five in the introduction and conclusion.
How many pages is a five-paragraph essay?
About 2 to 3 double-spaced pages.