How Long Is a Screenplay? Page Counts for Features, Shorts and TV

Quick answer: by common convention, a feature screenplay runs about 90 to 120 pages, a one-hour TV drama script roughly 45 to 65 pages, a half-hour single-camera comedy about 25 to 35 pages, and a short film script anywhere from a few pages to about 40. These ranges come from the loose rule that one formatted page equals about one minute of screen time. Contests and programs often set their own limits, so always check the rules.

“How long is a screenplay?” sounds like a question with one answer. In practice, the answer depends on the format, the genre and who will read it. A comedy spec, an hour-long pilot and a short film for a festival all have different expectations, and a page count far outside those expectations can make a reader hesitate before reading a word. A movie script at the expected script length shows a reader that the writer knows industry standards.

This guide explains where page-count conventions come from, the typical ranges for features, television and shorts, and the published limits from several well-known contests. It is part of the Movie Squirrel series on how to become a screenwriter. Page counts only mean something when the script is formatted correctly, so read it alongside the guide on how to format a screenplay. The ranges below are industry conventions, not rules, except where an organization’s published rule is quoted.

Where the Page-Per-Minute Rule Comes From

Screenplays are written in 12-point Courier, a monospaced font, with standard margins and indents. Because every script uses roughly the same layout, a page holds a similar amount of material from script to script. Over time, that consistency produced the rule of thumb that one page equals about one minute of screen time. Scene headings, action and dialogue all follow the same standard script format, which keeps the page range consistent from one script to the next.

It is an average, not a measurement. A page of rapid dialogue may play in well under a minute. A single line such as “The two armies clash” may describe several minutes of battle. Experienced production staff time scripts more carefully when a film goes into production. For a writer, the page count works best as a guide to pacing and as a signal to readers that the story fits its format. A first draft often runs longer than the final page count, so trim it before sharing.

The rule also explains why cheating the format backfires. Shrinking margins or squeezing line spacing to hit a page target breaks the link between pages and minutes, and experienced readers tend to notice.

How Long Is a Feature Screenplay?

For a feature film, the most commonly quoted range is about 90 to 120 pages. That page range is the standard length most readers expect from a feature film. Within that range, genre matters:

• Comedies, horror films and many family films often land at the shorter end, around 90 to 110 pages.
• Dramas, thrillers and action films commonly sit around 100 to 120 pages.
• Epics, historical films and large ensemble stories sometimes run longer, though a spec script from a new writer that runs well past 120 pages faces more skepticism.

Published contest guidance follows the same pattern. Final Draft’s Big Break contest, for example, suggests full-length screenplays of approximately 80 to 120 pages and says that entries over 150 pages will be disqualified. If you are submitting a spec screenplay, check each contest’s target script length before you enter.

For a definition of “feature,” the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences treats a short film as one with a running time of 40 minutes or less, including credits, so a feature is anything longer than that for its awards purposes. Most commercial features run far longer than 40 minutes, which is why feature scripts usually start around 90 pages.

Why Shorter Specs Are Often Safer

Readers at agencies, management companies and contests often have large stacks to get through. A tight 100-page script signals confidence and control. That does not mean you should cut good scenes to hit a number. It means every page should earn its place, and a long draft is a reason to look hard at pacing. A spec screenplay that stays near the standard length is easier for busy readers to finish.

How Long Is a TV Script?

Television scripts vary more than features, because the format depends on the show’s running time, act structure and whether it airs with commercial breaks.

• One-hour dramas: commonly about 45 to 65 pages. Network dramas built around commercial breaks often have a teaser and four to six acts, while streaming dramas may have looser structures.
• Half-hour single-camera comedies: commonly about 25 to 35 pages, formatted much like a feature script.
• Half-hour multi-camera sitcoms: often 45 pages or more, despite the short running time, because many multi-camera shows use a different format with double-spaced dialogue and capitalized action.

Big Break’s published guidelines again give a useful reference: hour-long teleplays of approximately 40 to 70 pages and half-hour teleplays of approximately 20 to 35 pages.

If you are writing a spec episode of an existing show, read produced scripts from that show and match their length and format. Show-specific style matters more than any general range.

Pilots

A pilot introduces the world, characters and series engine, so pilots sometimes run slightly longer than regular episodes of the same format. Even so, readers usually expect a pilot to look like the kind of episode the series would air, so a one-hour pilot at 75 pages may raise questions.

How Long Is a Short Film Script?

Short film scripts range from a single page to around 40 pages, and festival and contest rules shape what is practical. For a short film script, the festival’s runtime limit usually sets the target script length.

• Many short film contests and categories cap scripts at a specific length. Big Break’s short script category allows a maximum of 20 pages, Austin Film Festival’s short screenplay category accepts narrative shorts of 5 to 40 pages, and the PAGE Awards treats scripts of 30 pages or less as its short film category.
• Because a short film is usually self-financed, shorter scripts are easier to produce well. Many filmmakers aim for 5 to 15 pages for a first short.
• Festivals that program short films often have running-time limits, so a long short can be harder to place.

The rule of thumb still applies: a 10-page short will likely run around 10 minutes.

Other Formats

A few other formats have their own conventions.

• Digital series: Austin Film Festival’s scripted digital series competition accepts one to three episodes totaling no more than 30 pages.
• Stage plays: AFF’s playwriting category asks for full-length plays of 60 to 90 pages, or plays that could reasonably be performed within 90 minutes. Stage play format differs from screenplay format, so page counts are not directly comparable.
• Animation: animated features often use standard screenplay format, but production timing is handled differently, through storyboards and animatics.

Published Page Limits From Contests

Contests publish their own rules, and those rules override any general convention. A few examples from official rules pages, current as of October 2026:

• Final Draft Big Break: features approximately 80 to 120 pages; hour-long teleplays approximately 40 to 70 pages; half-hour teleplays approximately 20 to 35 pages; shorts no more than 20 pages; any entry over 150 pages is disqualified.
• Austin Film Festival: short screenplays 5 to 40 pages; scripted digital series up to 30 pages total across one to three episodes.
• PAGE Awards: scripts of 30 pages or less are placed in the short film category.

Rules change from year to year. Before entering, read the current rules on the official site. The guide to screenwriting contests covers how to choose which competitions to enter.

How to Cut a Script That Runs Long

If your draft is well past the conventional range, these passes help without resorting to format tricks.

1. Trim action lines. Cut stage directions that describe obvious movement, and break long blocks into short beats.
2. Enter scenes late and leave early. Many scenes can start after the greetings and end before the goodbyes.
3. Merge or cut repetitive scenes. If two scenes make the same point, keep the stronger one.
4. Cut dialogue that restates what the audience already knows.
5. Check subplots. A subplot that does not affect the main story may belong in a different script.
6. Look at structure. A long second act is often a sign of a missing midpoint or too many obstacles of the same kind. The guide to screenplay structure covers this in detail.

What If Your Script Is Too Short?

A feature draft at 75 pages may simply be lean, but it may also be underdeveloped. Check whether the main relationships have room to change, whether the second act escalates, and whether the climax has enough setup. Adding pages for their own sake does not help. Adding the missing story beats does. A story outline can show which beats are missing.

Checking Your Page Count the Right Way

Page counts only compare fairly when every script is laid out the same way. Before you decide a draft is too long or too short, check the basics.

1. Use screenwriting software or a proper template. Dedicated programs apply standard margins, indents and page breaks automatically, which keeps your count honest. The guide to screenwriting software compares the main options.
2. Export a PDF and count from there. The PDF is what readers see, and it is the version contests judge.
3. Leave the title page out of the count. Most writers and readers count from page 1 of the script itself.
4. Watch page-break labels. Programs add (MORE) and (CONT’D) when dialogue breaks across pages, and those lines add length. That is normal and expected.
5. Do not add scene numbers to a spec script. They belong to shooting scripts and add clutter without changing the story.

If you rewrite in a different program, compare page counts after the switch. Small differences in how programs handle page breaks can move a script by a page or two, which is nothing to worry about.

How Readers React to Page Count

Many readers glance at the page count before they open a script. That first impression does not decide whether a script is good, but it sets expectations. For industry gatekeepers, the page count is often part of that first impression.

A feature in the conventional range tells the reader the writer knows the format. A script far outside that range raises a question the pages then have to answer. A 95-page thriller suggests momentum. A 140-page comedy suggests the writer may not have cut enough. Neither impression is final, and strong pages can overturn either one.

The same logic applies to television. A one-hour drama pilot near 60 pages looks like a real episode, while one at 80 pages may look like a draft that has not been shaped for a time slot. Treat the conventional ranges as a way to remove one easy reason for a reader to say no.

Tools That Help

These books and desk tools help when you are measuring, timing and trimming a draft.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

The Screenwriter’s Bible by David Trottier (paid link): Covers format and length conventions for features and television.

Digital Stopwatch Timer (Black) (paid link): For timing a read-through of key scenes against their page count.

BIC Brite Liner Highlighters, Chisel Tip, 5-Count Pack, Assorted Colors (paid link): For marking cuts and repeated beats on a printed draft.

Hammermill Premium 24 lb Three-Hole Punched Paper, Letter Size (500 sheets) (paid link): Three-hole punched paper for printing drafts to edit by hand.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many pages is a 90-minute movie?

Using the page-per-minute convention, about 90 pages. Actual running time varies with pacing, action and dialogue. The rule of thumb only works when the script follows correct script format, including standard scene headings.

Is a 130-page screenplay too long?

It is not automatically disqualified, but it is above the most common range for a spec feature, and some readers may hesitate. Check any contest rules, and consider whether the story needs every page. A tighter first draft with a clear main character often reads faster.

How long is a one-hour TV pilot?

Commonly about 45 to 65 pages, depending on the show’s format. Read produced pilots in your genre for comparison. Screenplay formatting for a one-hour drama follows mostly the same script formatting rules as a feature, though multi-camera sitcoms often use their own layout.

Does the title page count toward the page count?

Generally no. The page count usually refers to the script pages, starting with page 1 of the screenplay. Check specific contest rules if in doubt. Under standard studio format the title page is not numbered, and the film industry treats it separately from the script pages.

Can I change margins to make my script shorter?

It is not recommended. Readers expect standard formatting, and changing margins or font breaks the page-per-minute convention. Page layout and white space are part of the professional feel of a script.

How long should a short film script be for a first film?

Many first-time filmmakers aim for about 5 to 15 pages, since shorter films are easier to produce and program. Check festival time limits. Scene length and plot complexity are easier to manage in a short movie script.

Sources and Further Reading

• Final Draft Big Break rules and eligibility, for suggested and maximum page counts.
• Austin Film Festival Script Competitions, for short screenplay, digital series and playwriting requirements.
• PAGE International Screenwriting Awards: How to Enter.
• Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, whose short film award rules define a short as 40 minutes or less, including credits.