One translation page is calculated as 1,800 characters including spaces. It is a measure of written translation volume rather than the number of sheets or on-screen pages in a document. A short form in large type and a densely formatted contract can therefore be assessed on the same transparent basis.
The final volume is normally determined from the completed translation. The total number of characters including spaces is divided by 1,800: a text containing 5,400 characters equals 3 translation pages, while 2,250 characters equal 1.25 pages. A preliminary quotation may be based on the source document, but the translated volume can differ because languages expand or contract differently.
In Microsoft Word, the figure appears in the Word Count window under characters including spaces. Google Docs provides an equivalent word and character count. For a PDF, photograph or scanned document, the text must first be extracted or recognised, so file legibility, tables, stamps and handwritten notes affect how accurately the volume can be estimated.
A physical page and a translation page are not the same. A one-page certificate may contain fewer than 1,800 characters, while a dense contract page may represent several translation pages. Font size, margins and line spacing do not alter the character count, although complex formatting or the recreation of tables can be a separate part of the service.
La Fit Trans reviews the file, language pair, subject matter, deadline and required output format before preparing a quotation. The quotation states the calculation basis, estimated volume and any additional services. Where a minimum volume or rounding rule applies to a particular order, it is stated in advance and kept separate from the price of the written translation itself.