How Long Should My Book Be? (Spoiler: It’s Not About Word Count)

If you’ve ever asked yourself, “How long should my book be?”—you’re not alone. It’s one of the most common questions we get from aspiring authors. And in Episode 13 of The Smart Publishing Impact Series, I (Renée Lautermilch, Chief Editor at Smart Publishing) unpack exactly that.

The short answer?
Your book should be as long as it needs to be—to provide value, clarity, and a great reading experience.

But let’s go deeper, because this isn’t just about picking a number and calling it good.

Why We Even Care About Book Length

The obsession with word count comes mostly from the traditional publishing world. Publishers calculate ROI based on book thickness and how much they can reasonably charge. A $35 hardcover book, for example, needs to be thick enough to look like it’s worth that price.

But here's the catch: trying to hit arbitrary word counts often leads to fluff. You’ve probably read books where the author says the same thing ten different ways. That’s filler, and it dilutes the reader experience.

Independent Authors? You’ve Got Freedom.

If you're self-publishing, you're not tied to those word count rules. That means your book can be as short or as long as it needs to be—as long as it’s delivering value.

Here’s what I recommend:
Don’t focus on word count. Focus on page count—especially if you care about how your book looks on a shelf.

The Magic Number for Page Count

To have a readable spine (so your title isn’t microscopic or invisible), aim for at least 100 pages in the final formatted version of your book.

• KDP’s minimum page count is 76, but it’ll be hard to get a spine that looks good.

• In our experience, 97 pages is the bare minimum for a legible spine.

• A 6x9 book (the most popular trim size) usually translates to about 60–65 Word doc pages before formatting.

Two Ways to Write Your Book

1. Typing it Out:
   If you’re writing in Microsoft Word, aim for about 60–65 pages. That’ll get you to a ~100-page final book after formatting.

2. Recording & Transcription:
   Don’t want to type? Record your content and transcribe it!
   Here’s how audio time breaks down:

   • 5 minutes = ~2 pages in Word

   • 15 minutes = ~6–8 pages

   • 40 minutes = ~12–13 pages
     If you can talk about your topic, you can write your book—faster than you think.

Ways to Build Out Page Count (Without Fluff)

If your book feels too short, don’t just stuff in more words. Instead, think about what would add value for the reader:

• Diagrams

• Charts or illustrations

• Reflection questions

• Journaling sections

• Workbook-style pages

• Key takeaways

Just don’t go overboard—especially with blank pages. Amazon KDP flags books that look like low-content fillers.

Final Thoughts

At the end of the day, the goal isn’t to hit some arbitrary number. It’s to give your reader something worth reading—and ideally, something that looks good on a shelf too.

So don’t stress about word count. Focus on substance, design, and experience.

Want to Dive Deeper?

📘 Check out my book, The One-Hour Author: A Simple Guide to Writing and Publishing on a Busy Schedule – it’s the perfect guide if you're ready to finally get your book done (without it taking over your life).

🎧 And don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast on Apple, Spotify, or YouTube. Episode 13 is live now!