GITNUX MARKETDATA REPORT 2024

Statistics About The Average Length Of A Short Story

The average length of a short story is typically around 3,500 to 7,500 words.

Last Updated: June 18, 2024

How we write

In the following post, we explore a diverse range of statistics regarding the average length of short stories across various genres and platforms. From the accepted lengths in anthologies to the preferences of renowned publications and authors, these insights shed light on the common word counts found in different types of short fiction.

Statistic 1

"For anthologies, the average accepted short story length tends to be around 6,000 words."

Statistic 2

"Short stories in pulp fiction magazines commonly average at around 2,000 to 4,000 words."

Statistic 3

"Very short children's stories typically average around 400 words."

Statistic 4

"Average length of young adult short stories is often 2,000–8,000 words."

Statistic 5

"Many science fiction short stories hover around 5,000 words."

Statistic 6

"Most of Ray Bradbury's short stories fall in the 1,000–7,500 word range."

Statistic 7

"Twenty years ago the average short story length was 2,000 words, but it has since increased."

Statistic 8

"The length of the average "novelette," or long short story, is 7,500–17,500 words."

Statistic 9

"Most Ernest Hemingway's short stories are under 3,000 words."

Statistic 10

"Average length preferred by The New Yorker is 3,000–5,000 words."

Statistic 11

"Flash Fiction Online prefers stories of 500–1,000 words."

Statistic 12

"The shortest horror story, "The Red Tower" by Thomas Ligotti, is about 574 words long."

Statistic 13

"Flash fiction stories in SmokeLong Quarterly are under 1,000 words."

Statistic 14

"Clarkesworld Magazine prefers short stories of 1,000–16,000 words."

Statistic 15

"For intermediate English learners, the average short story length is about 1,500 words."

Statistic 16

"The shortest story ever published, "Baby Shoes" (attributed to Hemingway), is only six words: "For sale: baby shoes, never worn.""

In conclusion, the length of short stories varies significantly across different genres and publications, with average word counts ranging from as low as 400 words for very short children’s stories to as high as 17,500 words for long short stories or “novelettes.” The evolution of average short story lengths over the years is evident, with some publications favoring shorter pieces like flash fiction while others prefer more expansive narratives. Authors such as Ray Bradbury and Ernest Hemingway have left their mark with stories spanning a wide range of word counts. Ultimately, the diversity in short story lengths reflects the creative flexibility and adaptability of the genre to cater to different audiences and storytelling styles.

Jannik Lindner

Jannik is the Co-Founder of Gitnux and has been working in the digital space since 2016. He is specialized in content and tech.

Can You Trust Our Report?

The statistics are checked by us and then entered into the database. Our market data reports have been linked to by some of the largest publishers and companies on the Internet.

Learn more about our process here.