How Long Is a Screenplay?
Page counts for features, shorts, and TV. Why one page equals one minute, and when the standard length matters.
How long should a screenplay be?
One page of properly formatted screenplay is roughly one minute of screen time. So the page count tells you the runtime.
Standard lengths
- Feature film: 90 to 120 pages. Most land between 95 and 110. Comedies tend to run shorter, dramas longer.
- Short film: 1 to 40 pages. A 5-minute short is about 5 pages. A 15-minute short is about 15 pages.
- TV pilot (hour): 50 to 65 pages. Hour dramas run about 55 to 60.
- TV pilot (half-hour): 28 to 35 pages for a single-cam, 22 to 30 for a multi-cam.
- TV episode: same as the pilot format for that show.
Why it matters
Readers and producers use page count as a quick filter. A 180-page feature signals a first draft that hasn't been cut. A 40-page "feature" signals a short that's mislabeled. Hitting the expected range tells them you know the form.
When to break the rule
Some scripts run long and earn it. But those are the exception. If you're under 90 or over 120 for a feature, have a reason. And consider whether the story would be better served at the standard length.
The page count in Scene Forges
The status bar in the editor shows your page count in real time. Use it as a guide, not a constraint. Write the story first, then cut or expand to hit the range.
Try it yourself.
Open Scene Forges and practice this directly in the screenplay editor.