How Many Words in a Book? Choosing the Right Length

When you start writing a nonfiction book, one of the first questions that pops up is, “How many words should my book be?”

It’s an understandable question — especially when you see books ranging anywhere from a few thousand words to well over 60,000. But here’s the thing: there isn’t one magic number that makes your book the “right” length.

The ideal book word count depends on your topic, your reader’s expectations, and how much explanation your subject truly needs. Some ideas call for a deep, comprehensive book. Others work best as short, focused guides readers can finish in an hour.

Let’s talk about how to decide what’s right for your nonfiction book — and how to make sure your length matches your goals and your readers’ needs.

Start With the Reader’s Goal

Every nonfiction book exists to help the reader do something — learn, solve, decide, or improve.
Your ideal word count often becomes clear when you think about how much transformation your reader expects to experience.

Ask yourself:

Is my reader looking for a quick win or a complete shift?
Do they want to understand something or implement something?
Are they hoping to test the waters or master a skill?

If your reader wants a fast solution — for instance, a 5-step process to streamline morning routines or a quick guide to setting up an Etsy shop — a short book (around 5,000 to 15,000 words) usually hits the mark.

If your topic involves mindset shifts, research, or a multi-step process, you’ll probably need a longer book — often 25,000 to 60,000 words or more — to give readers the depth and context they’re looking for.

Complexity Matters More Than Word Count

When deciding on the length of your book, think about complexity before you think about numbers.

Sometimes a small topic needs a long explanation. Other times, a broad idea can be covered quickly if you stay focused.

For example:

How to Create a Monthly Budget in Google Sheets could be done in 6,000–8,000 words with screenshots and a few examples.
How to Master Personal Finance in Your 30s could easily exceed 30,000 words because it covers multiple concepts — debt, investing, and mindset.

The more background or setup your reader needs before they can apply what you teach, the higher your book word count will likely climb.

Let the Outline Tell You the Truth

Instead of guessing at the right length, start by outlining your book.
List out your main chapters, then jot down the points you’ll need to cover under each one.

You’ll immediately see whether you’re looking at a short guide or a full-length manual.

If you can explain each chapter’s points in a few sentences, it’s probably a short book.
If each section branches into examples, steps, or multiple subtopics, you’re heading toward a longer format.

Let your outline determine your length, not the other way around.

You’ll end up with a more natural flow — and avoid filler content that only exists to hit a certain word count.

When a Short Book Is the Right Choice

Short books shine when readers are motivated but busy. They want answers fast, not an extended reading experience.

They’re perfect for:

Solving one specific problem
Covering a narrow topic that doesn’t need much background
Helping readers take action the same day they start reading

Examples:

How to Plan a Simple Wedding Budget in One Afternoon
The Beginner’s Guide to Canva Templates
30 Days to a Better Morning Routine

These quick reads generally fall between 5,000 and 15,000 words — long enough to deliver value, short enough to finish in one sitting.

Short books also work beautifully as part of a series, where each title tackles a single problem. That approach can expand your reach without increasing your workload.

When a Longer Book Earns Its Length

Some subjects simply need more space. If your promise involves transformation, storytelling, or advanced learning, you’ll need more pages to deliver it.

Longer books are ideal for:

Step-by-step frameworks that require context or examples
Multi-phase topics (like growing a business or improving health)
Teaching deeper understanding instead of quick tactics

Typical long nonfiction books range from 25,000 to 60,000 words or more.

Readers expect to spend time with these books — and they’re fine with that, as long as every page adds value.

A Quick Note About Pricing and Perceived Value

Your book’s length can influence what readers expect to pay, but it doesn’t always determine what they will pay.

Short books often perform well in the $2.99–$4.99 Kindle range, especially when they solve an immediate problem. Longer, more comprehensive books might land between $6.99 and $9.99, depending on perceived depth and usefulness.

Readers are paying for results, not word count. If your content helps them accomplish something meaningful, they’ll see it as worth the price.

Use AI to Help Estimate and Plan

If you’re unsure how long your book should be, AI can make the process much easier. Tools like ChatGPT can help you brainstorm chapters, estimate approximate word counts per section, and identify areas where you might want to go deeper.

You can ask something like:

"Here’s my book topic. Help me create an outline and estimate the word count for each chapter if the total book length is around 20,000 words.”

AI can also help you uncover ideas you might not have considered — fresh examples, angles, or subtopics that make your book stronger.
Think of it as a creative partner that helps you map your book before you ever type the first page.
You’ll still make the final decisions, but the collaboration can spark better structure and pacing.

Hybrid Formats That Give You Flexibility

Not every project fits neatly into short or long. Some topics sit right in between — and that’s fine.

You can:

Write a shorter core book (around 10,000–15,000 words) and include bonus materials like checklists or templates.
Split a large idea into multiple short books instead of one long one.
Create a modular structure, so readers can skim for quick help or dive into deeper explanations.

These flexible approaches let you meet your readers where they are — without committing to a single, rigid length.

The Simplest Way to Decide

When in doubt, stop counting words for a minute and focus on this question:

“What will it take for my reader to feel satisfied that they got what they came for?”

If you can deliver that result in 7,000 words, wonderful. If it takes 40,000, that’s fine too.

The best length for your book is the one that serves the reader’s need without wasting their time — and helps you share your expertise clearly and completely.