How Translation Word and Page Counts Work

How We Price Your Translation

We base our pricing on the total word count of your document:

• Certified translations are priced per page, with one page covering up to 250 words. We also allow a small buffer (up to 60 additional words) before counting it as an extra page. This means a single page can include up to 310 words before rolling over to the next page.
• Standard translations are priced per word.

For example:

• A 980-word document = 4 pages (certified)
• A 1,050-word document = still 4 pages (certified, within the buffer)
• A 1,100-word document = 5 pages (certified)
• Standard translation pricing would use the full word count (e.g., 980, 1,050, or 1,100 words)

Pricing reflects the amount of text to translate rather than the number of physical pages. A dense one-page birth certificate containing 700 words costs more than a five-page form containing 500 words in total. The page count for certified translation is a billing unit, so the number of sheets, font size, or spacing in the original document does not determine the price.

Important: Word counts can expand or contract when translating between languages. For example, the same information may use different numbers of words in Spanish, English, and Vietnamese. We typically bill based on the target word count, since that reflects the final length and work involved in the translation.

What Counts as a Word?

The count includes every visible word in the document, including text already in the target language. The translator still needs to reproduce and place that content correctly to provide a complete translation. Numbers and text in stamps, notes, and other parts of the page also contribute to the count.

We count:

• Numbers: Each number is considered one word, whether it's a single digit like "4" or a longer number like "926". Even though numbers may not need to be translated, they still need to be typed, formatted, and placed correctly within the document.
• Words already in the target language: If parts of the document are already in the language you're translating to, they are still counted. Translators must retype and format this content to maintain consistency with the rest of the translation and meet certification requirements.
• Stamps, seals, headers, footers, instructions, handwritten notes, and signatures: Especially in certified translations, all visible content must be included. These elements often require careful formatting or transcription to preserve the integrity of the original document.

For scanned or photographed documents, translators often need to type the content and recreate its basic structure. That work includes numbers, text already in the target language, and repeated wording. If you want to exclude annotations, unrelated pages, or other material, remove or redact it before uploading. Otherwise, all visible content is included in the translation and word count.

How Word Counts Are Calculated

During checkout, our system counts the text in your uploaded files and shows a preview of what it detected. Review that preview against the document to check for missed text or counting errors before submitting the order. Clear files help the system recognize the content accurately.

To get the most accurate word count, make sure your files are clear, legible, and well-formatted. Here are a few tips:

• Use high-quality scans or photos: The clearer your document, the more accurately our system can detect text.
• Avoid shadows, glare, or folds: These can interfere with text recognition and lead to undercounting or missed content.
• Submit one document per image or file: Don't include multiple pages in a single photo. Each page should be submitted as its own image or as part of a properly scanned multi-page PDF.
• Fill the frame: Ensure the document takes up as much of the image as possible without cutting off any edges. Don't include background or desk space.
• Keep everything straight: Crooked or angled images reduce accuracy. Try to align documents squarely within the frame when capturing a photo.
• Avoid handwritten text when possible: Printed or typed text is much easier to process, but our system can often accurately count handwriting given a good scan or photo.

If the word count looks incorrect or if your file includes handwriting or low-quality images, you can always request a quote. Our team will manually review your files and confirm the word and page count before providing a price and turnaround time.

The automatic word count preview reflects the source text, which lets you confirm that we captured all of the visible content correctly. Please note that the final billable count is usually based on the target translation, which may be slightly higher or lower depending on language pair expansion or contraction.

When Automatic Word Counting May Not Work

Most documents can be counted automatically, but some formats or file conditions need manual review. A quote lets our team identify the text that needs translation and confirm the appropriate word or page count. Common examples include:

• CSV or XLSX files: These files often contain structured data where not all text needs translation or should be counted. A manual quote is required to review the content and determine the accurate scope of work.
• PowerPoint files: Presentations often contain text embedded in slides, notes, and master layouts. We manually review these files to determine if translation within the original format is possible and to provide an accurate quote.
• Files with duplicated text in multiple languages: If your document contains the same content repeated in different languages, our system will count all visible words. You can either redact the duplicate text before uploading or request a quote with a note indicating which sections should be excluded from translation.
• Low-quality scans or photographs: Documents that are blurry, shadowed, cut off, or heavily handwritten can lead to missed text or inaccurate word counts. If the automatic count doesn't reflect the full scope of work, we recommend requesting a manual quote for an accurate assessment.

If any of these situations apply to your documents, or if you simply want to double-check the count, please request a quote. Our team will review your files, confirm the correct word or page count, and provide an updated price and turnaround time before you finalize your order.