Guide to Calculating Page Counts for Certified Translations

Guide to Calculating Page Counts for Certified Translations

Understanding How Certified Translation Pages Are Counted

When it comes to pricing certified translations, it’s important to understand that the number of physical pages in your document is not what determines the cost. Instead, the pricing is based on the total word count of the document. This approach ensures fairness and consistency, as it does not depend on the document’s format.

Why Word Count Matters More Than Physical Pages

Example of Varying Formats: A single-page birth certificate with 700 words and a four-page bank statement with 100 words per page illustrate why physical page count is not used. Using physical pages would unfairly price the shorter bank statement higher than the more word-dense birth certificate.
Standard Calculation: The industry standard is 250 words per page. So, a document with 1,000 words would be considered as four pages (1,000 ÷ 250 = 4). This count continues in 250-word increments.

Defining a ‘Word’ in Certified Translations

Numbers as Words: Numbers, regardless of their length, count as individual words. For example, both “4” and “926” are counted as one word each.
Language Irrelevance: Words count regardless of the language they are in. This includes words already in the target language of the translation.
Complete Translation Requirement: All visible content, including headers and instructions, must be translated in certified translations.

Obtaining an Accurate Word Count

Technology Use: Optical character recognition (OCR) software is often used to extract text from scanned or photographed documents for an accurate count.
Manual Counting: Some documents, especially those with handwritten text, may require manual word counting.
Assistance Available: If you are unsure of your word count, you can request a quote, and the support team will provide the word and page count, total price, and estimated turnaround time.

Pricing and Document Specifications

Price Per Page: The cost for a certified translation is $40.00 per page, with no hidden fees.
Page Word Limit: Each page can contain up to 250 words, including numbers.
Page Size and Format: Pages may be letter size (8.5″ x 11″), A4, or smaller and should be one-sided.

Example Calculation

Physical Pages and Word Count Example: A document with 2 physical pages, each containing 500 words (1,000 words total), would be calculated as 4 pages (1,000 ÷ 250 = 4).

Contact for Questions

If you have any questions or need assistance, don’t hesitate to contact our support team for guidance and clarification.