How many paragraphs is an essay?
The classic essay is 5 paragraphs — introduction, three body paragraphs, conclusion. Beyond that, plan roughly one body paragraph per 150–200 words.
By word count
By level
Middle school essays usually stay at the 5-paragraph form. High school essays run 5–7 paragraphs; college essays drop the rigid formula — structure follows the argument, but the 100–200-words-per-paragraph rule of thumb still holds. Graduate writing is organized by sections rather than paragraph counts.
What actually matters
One idea per paragraph. If a paragraph passes ~200 words or 8 sentences, it’s probably two ideas sharing a room — split it. Paste your draft into the paragraph counter to see your paragraph count and average length live, or check the total in the word counter.
Related
How long is an essay? · How many pages is 1,000 words? · Paragraph counter