Arriving at the answer can be a little tricky. The number of pages in a given file varies widely based on different file types and characteristics; such as whether the original file contains system data in addition to the readable data (as in a .pst email file); includes special formatting (as in an .xls spreadsheet file); or contains only pure text (as in a .txt text file). The secret to making a good page estimate is to evaluate the file types included in the dataset.

The table below provides an average number of pages per gigabyte for some common document types.

Although the actual number of pages cannot be determined accurately until the data is actually processed, it is possible to provide a ballpark estimate before a project begins. Once the scope is established, attorneys will be in the best possible position to set client expectations and begin working on the rest of the electronic discovery plan.