Standard Manuscript Page
In short: A standard manuscript page is a standardized page used to measure text length and calculate fees – classically about 1,500 characters including spaces (roughly 30 lines of 60 characters).
What it's for
Comparable length: Because font and layout distort page counts, the industry measures length in standard pages rather than book pages.
A basis for fees: Editing and translation are often billed per standard page.
Related terms: Synopsis · Editing
Frequently asked questions
What is a standard manuscript page?
A standardized page of about 1,500 characters that serves as a unit for measuring text length.
How many characters does a standard page have?
Classically around 1,500 characters including spaces; sometimes 1,800 is used.