Writing a book can be a thrilling adventure. If you are on it, this question may pop into your mind "How many chapters in a novel?” It is an expected question with multiple answers.

Every novel/book tells its own story. However, grasping how chapters work and how long they usually are can help you design your book from idea to execution with clarity.

We have created this piece to explain each step clearly to help you confidently make the right decision regarding the number of chapters in your book for your story. But first, let us tell you what a chapter is and why it is important.

What is a Chapter, and Why is It Important?

A chapter is a fundamental unit of your book. It helps divide your story into sections that are easy to track. Each section or chapter is a short story with its own beginning, middle, and ending.

Chapters create flow and momentum. They give your readers a moment to pause and help organise their story in a format. Therefore, you should divide your book into many chapters.

The next section will discuss the appropriate number of chapters in novels as per their genres.

How Many Chapters are in a Novel

The average number of chapters in a novel generally falls between 10 to 25.

Here’s a quick genre-based overview:

Genre	Average Chapters
Thriller	40-60 short chapters
Romance	10-25 chapters
Science fiction	20-30 chapters
Young adult	15-30 chapters
Literary fiction	12-20 chapters

These are only a rough overview. Some best-selling books have way more chapters than this average number. One of these books is Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone by Diana Gabaldon.

This series contains a remarkable 155 chapters, which makes it one of the most chapter-heavy bestsellers.

How to Decide the Number of Chapters in Your Book?

You can easily decide the number of chapters in your book. Just ask yourself these questions.

• What pace do you aim for your novel?
• What is the size of your novel?
• Do your chapter breaks feel natural?

You should focus on your story structure instead of sticking to a certain number of chapters. Then you can break your draft into chapters.

How Many Words are in A Chapter?

Another common question that comes to a writer's mind is: "How many words are in a chapter?"

Here's a quick estimate:

• The average chapter length is 1500 to 5000 words
• Short chapters are 800 to 1500 words
• Long chapters are 4000 to 6000 words

Let's assume your book contains about 80000 words. Then, you can divide it into 20 chapters of roughly 4000 words. But if you prefer shorter chapters, split it into 40 chapters of roughly 2000 words.

Remember, consistency is key. Readers notice if chapters are of uneven lengths. Small variations are okay.

Average Chapter Length in Pages

If you are wondering how your chapters should appear in your book format, here's a breakdown.

• 250 to 300 words per page
• A chapter containing 2000 words, which is around 7 to 8 pages
• A chapter containing 5000 words, which is around 17 to 20 s

You should ideally focus on the number of words in each chapter since page count can vary depending on different font sizes and styles.

Still, knowing the average chapter length in pages helps you visualise your book's physical structure. Especially when you're learning how to make a book from the beginning to the end

Does Every Chapter Need A Dramatic Ending?

Not always, but it is useful to keep readers hooked to the novel.

Writing a book isn't just about how long your book is. It is also about how you convert your imagination into a storybook and how you keep your readers engaged till the end of the book.

Here are some ways to end your chapter.

• Present a question or mystery
• Drop a plot twist
• End on an emotional note

You don't need a cliffhanger in every chapter, but with a mystery unresolved, make the reader eager to read the next chapter.

Tips for Structuring Your Chapters

If you're not sure how to map your chapters, here are some useful tips

• Use chapters to show progression
• Have clear chapter goals
• Keep a consistent chapter length
• Title or number your chapters
• . Don't overthink it

Well-Known Novels and Their Chapter Count

Book title	Chapter count
To Kill a Mockingbird	31
Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone	17
The Great Gatsby	9
The Catcher in the Rye	26
1984	24

As you can see, there isn't any book with 0 chapters because chapters are essential for strong storytelling.

Conclusion: Do What Works for Your Story

Eventually, the best answer for the question “ how many chapters in a novel?” is that, however many feel right for the story. Some books consist of 12 lengthy chapters, whereas some books consist of more than 40 short chapters. If you're learning how to write a book, don't jump to numbers directly. Focus on the flow of your story, and then afterwards, during the editing, break your story into chapters.

Need Help with Your Book?

Once your draft is done, it's time to review and publish your book.

• Check out our book editing services to make sure your content is clear and easy to understand
• Ready to publish? books publishing help is here to turn your draft into a hardcopy masterpiece.

Whether you are starting to write or ready to publish your draft, we are here to help from the first word of your book to the last word.