The rule: one page, about one minute
In standard screenplay format — 12-point Courier, a 1.5-inch left margin, standard indents — one page averages roughly one minute of screen time. That is why page count is the first thing a reader notices: it tells them how long the film will be before they read a word.
The rule is an average. A page of dense fight choreography may play in thirty seconds; a page of quiet argument may run two minutes. Over a whole script, the differences mostly cancel out.
Expected lengths by format
| Format | Typical pages | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Feature film | 90–120 | Many readers prefer 95–110 for a spec |
| 90-minute feature | ~90 | One page ≈ one minute |
| Comedy / horror feature | 85–100 | These genres tend to run shorter |
| Drama / epic feature | 100–130 | Longer is accepted when the scale is on the page |
| One-hour TV drama pilot | 50–65 | Act breaks marked on the page |
| Half-hour single-camera comedy | 25–35 | |
| Half-hour multi-camera sitcom | 40–55 | Double-spaced dialogue makes pages play faster |
| Short film | 5–15 | Festivals favour the shorter end |
| Micro-drama episode | 1–3 | See vertical micro-drama scripts |
Why readers care
- A long spec signals a draft that needs work. Over 120 pages, many readers start the script expecting to recommend cuts.
- A very short feature signals thin story. Under about 85 pages, a reader may wonder whether there is enough to sustain a feature.
- In production, pages become days. Schedules count pages in eighths; a shooting day is planned around how many pages the unit can shoot. See page eighth.
Do not cheat the margins
Shrinking the font, tightening margins or squeezing line spacing to hit a page count is the oldest trick a reader knows — and it breaks the one-page-per-minute rule that gives page count its meaning. If the script is long, cut scenes and lines, not spacing.
Counting pages correctly
Page count only means something if the pages are laid out to standard. Screenwriting software handles this; ScenePaper's Writers' Room paginates scripts the way a printed screenplay breaks, so its page count matches the page.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many pages is a feature film screenplay?+
Most feature screenplays are 90 to 120 pages. For a spec script, many readers prefer 95 to 110 pages; scripts much over 120 are often read as needing a trim.
How many pages is a screenplay for a 90-minute movie?+
About 90 pages, because in standard screenplay format one page averages roughly one minute of screen time. Action-heavy pages tend to play faster and dialogue-heavy pages slower, so the match is approximate.
How long is a TV pilot script?+
A one-hour drama pilot is usually around 50 to 65 pages and a half-hour comedy around 25 to 35. Multi-camera sitcom scripts run longer per minute because of their spacing.
How long should a short film script be?+
Most short film scripts are 5 to 15 pages. Festivals programme short shorts more easily, so a script under 10 pages gives a short more chances.
About the author
Geenesh S
Founder & Editor, ScenePaper
Builds and runs ScenePaper. Writes about how film production actually schedules, budgets and hires — and where the paperwork breaks.
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