The average word count for a short story is often between 2,000 and 7,000 words. It depends on factors like the target audience, the theme, and whether it's for a literary magazine or an online platform. Shorter short stories might focus on a single event or moment, while longer ones can develop characters and subplots more.
On average, a short story might have around 3,000 to 5,000 words. However, some consider anything under 10,000 words to be a short story. The word count can also be influenced by the complexity of the plot and the style of writing.