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How many words is a middle grade novel?
Middle grade novels usually run 30,000 to 55,000 words, about 100 to 220 printed pages. They are written for readers of about 8 to 12.
Work it out
pages, single-spaced, Arial 12 pt, about 500 words a page
- Handwritten pages
- 180
- Reading time
- 3 hr 9 min
- Speaking time
- 5 hr–5 hr 46 min
- Typing time
- 18 hr 45 min
- Paragraphs
- 225–450
- Sentences
- 2,250–3,000
- Characters with spaces
- about 270,000
Write it in the word counter with a goal of at least 45,000 words.
Open the word counterMiddle grade novel in pages and minutes
| Length | Single-spaced | Double-spaced | Reading time | Speaking time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30,000 words | 60 | 120 | 2 hr 6 min | 3 hr 20 min–3 hr 50 min |
| 55,000 words | 110 | 220 | 3 hr 51 min | 6 hr 6 min–7 hr 3 min |
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.
Lengths within middle grade
Contemporary and humorous middle grade sits at the shorter end, often 30,000 to 45,000 words. Fantasy and adventure run longer, up to 60,000 or more, because they build a world. Books for the younger end of the age range, around 8, are shorter than those for 11 and 12-year-olds.
Charlotte’s Web by E. B. White, a classic for this age, is about 32,000 words.
Tips
- Short chapters of 1,500 to 3,000 words suit readers this age.
- Check readability. The word counter gives a Flesch–Kincaid grade, a rough guide to whether sentences suit the age group.
Questions and answers
How many words is a middle grade novel?
Usually 30,000 to 55,000.
What is the difference between middle grade and young adult?
Age of the readers and the main character: middle grade is for about 8 to 12, with a protagonist around 10 to 13; young adult is for teenagers and usually longer.