File Size to Printed Pages Calculator

Estimate how many printed pages a text file, word count, character count, or pasted text would take. This data-to-paper calculator also estimates duplex sheets, reams, paper weight, stack height, and optional print cost.

Answer first

1 GB of mostly ASCII UTF-8 text at 3,000 characters per page is about 333,334 pages, or 166,667 duplex sheets.

Default assumptions: decimal GB, 1 byte per character, A4 80 gsm paper, double-sided printing, 500 sheets per ream.

Your Inputs

Decimal GB uses powers of 1,000.
1 GB = 1,000,000,000 bytes.
Mostly ASCII UTF-8 text is about 1 byte per character.
Report: about 3,000 characters or 500 words per page.
Advanced layout and print planning
Narrow 0.5 in, normal 1 in, wide 1.5 in.
Optional override for words-to-pages estimates.
A4 80 gsm: about 5.0 g per sheet.

Results

Estimated printed pages –
Sheets of paper: – (double-sided)
Reams / cases: – / –
Approx paper weight: –
Stack height: –
Characters: –
Estimated bytes: –
Paper cost: –
Total print cost: –
Assumes constant average bytes/character and chosen characters/page. Rounds up to whole pages and sheets.

Calculation used

Bytes–
Bytes/character–
Characters/page–
Pages–
Sheets–
Reams–
Weight–
Height–
Bar compares your stack with a ream, desk height, and door height.
Your stack–
1 ream50 mm
Desk height750 mm
Door height2,000 mm

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Common file size examples

These examples use the default assumptions: mostly ASCII UTF-8 text, 3,000 characters per page, duplex printing, and A4 80 gsm paper.

Query Pages Duplex sheets Reams Weight Stack

Common word count examples

Word-count examples assume 6 characters per word, including spaces and punctuation, and the same default page layout.

Query Pages Duplex sheets Reams Weight Stack

How the estimate is calculated

The calculator converts the input into characters, divides by the selected characters-per-page value, then rounds up to whole pages and sheets. The pasted-text mode counts actual UTF-8 bytes in the browser; the file-size, word-count, and character-count modes use the selected encoding estimate.

bytes = size × unit_multiplier
characters ≈ bytes ÷ bytes_per_character
pages = ceil(characters ÷ characters_per_page)
sheets = ceil(pages ÷ sides_per_sheet)
reams = sheets ÷ 500

Use the advanced layout controls when the page count depends on familiar document choices: page size, orientation, margins, font size, line spacing, and words-per-page assumptions.

Assumptions and sources

  • GB vs GiB: Decimal GB uses powers of 1,000, while binary GiB uses powers of 1,024. NIST documents binary prefixes such as KiB, MiB, and GiB for powers of 1,024. NIST binary prefixes
  • UTF encodings: UTF-8 is variable width, with ASCII characters taking 1 byte and other Unicode characters taking more. UTF-16 commonly uses 2 or 4 bytes per character, and UTF-32 uses 4 bytes. Unicode UTF FAQ
  • Characters per page: Manuscript-style pages are often estimated from about 60 to 65 characters per line and 24 to 25 lines, which lands near 1,500 to 1,650 characters per page. Denser report pages can hold closer to 3,000 characters depending on font, margins, and spacing.
  • Paper quantities: This calculator uses 500 sheets per ream and 10 reams per case. Paper quantity reference
  • Thickness and weight: Stack height uses 500 sheets ≈ 50 mm, or 0.10 mm per sheet. A4 80 gsm paper is about 5 g per sheet; US Letter 20 lb copy paper is about 4.5 g per sheet. Actual brands vary.

Last reviewed: June 29, 2026.

Practical notes for large text jobs

1 GB is a large print job

At 3,000 characters per page and duplex printing, a 1 GB UTF-8 text block is about 333,334 pages and 333 reams of paper.

Default estimate

Encoding changes the result

Switching from mostly ASCII UTF-8 to a 3 bytes-per-character estimate cuts the estimated character count, and therefore the page count, to about one third.

Encoding

Code and logs need care

Monospace printing, long lines, indentation, and wrapped log output can move the result away from prose estimates. Use the code preset or paste a sample.

Code

Costs scale quickly

Enter cost per sheet and cost per printed page to estimate a print job that includes both paper and per-page printing charges.

Cost

Duplex changes sheets, not pages

The document still has the same number of printed pages. Duplex printing reduces the physical sheet count by placing two pages on each sheet.

Duplex

FAQ

How many pages is 1 GB of text?

With decimal GB, mostly ASCII UTF-8 text, and 3,000 characters per page, 1 GB is about 333,334 printed pages, or 166,667 duplex sheets. Binary 1 GiB is about 357,914 pages with the same assumptions.

Is GB the same as GiB?

No. GB is decimal: 1 GB = 1,000,000,000 bytes. GiB is binary: 1 GiB = 1,073,741,824 bytes. The calculator relabels the file-size units as KiB, MiB, GiB, and TiB when binary mode is selected.

Why does my PDF print differently?

PDFs include fixed layout, images, tables, page breaks, headers, footers, and whitespace. This calculator estimates plain text, so a formatted PDF can print to a different number of pages.

How many characters fit on a page?

A double-spaced manuscript page is often near 1,500 to 1,650 characters. A denser report page can be near 3,000 characters. The advanced controls let you estimate from page size, margins, font size, and line spacing.

Does double-sided printing change page count or sheet count?

It changes sheet count. The page count is the number of page faces to print; duplex printing places two page faces on one physical sheet.

Can I paste text without uploading it?

Yes. Pasted text is counted locally in your browser with JavaScript. This page does not upload pasted content.

How accurate is this for code, logs, CJK text, or emoji?

It is an estimate. Code and logs can wrap differently from prose, and CJK text or emoji can use more UTF-8 bytes per character. Paste real text or adjust the encoding and page-density settings for a closer result.

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