Rule 2135. Length of Briefs.

(a) [General rule.] Unless otherwise [prescribed] ordered by an appellate court:

(1) [a]A principal brief shall not exceed 14,000 words and a reply brief shall not 

exceed 7,000 words, except as stated in subparagraphs (a)(2)-(4). A party

shall file a certificate of compliance with the word count limit if the 

principal brief is longer than 30 pages or the reply brief is longer than 15 

pages when prepared on a word processor or typewriter.

(2) In cross appeals under [Rule] Pa.R.A.P. 2136 [(briefs in cases involving cross 

appeals)], the first brief of the deemed or designated appellee and the second 

brief of the deemed or designated appellant shall not exceed 16,500 words. A 

party shall file a certificate of compliance if the brief is longer than 35 

pages when produced on a word processor or typewriter.

(3) [a reply brief shall not exceed 7,000 words] In capital direct appeals, the

principal brief shall not exceed 17,500 words and a reply brief shall not 

exceed 8,500 words. A party shall file a certificate of compliance if the 

principal brief is longer than 38 pages or the reply brief is longer than 19 

pages when prepared on a word processor or typewriter.

(4) In the first Capital Post-Conviction Relief Act appeal, the principal brief 

shall not exceed 22,500 words and a reply brief shall not exceed 11,250 

words. A party shall file a certificate of compliance if the principal brief is 

longer than 49 pages or the reply brief is longer than 24 pages when 

prepared on a word processor or typewriter.

(b) Supplementary matter. Supplementary matters, such as, t[T]he cover of the brief 

and pages containing the table of contents, tables of citations, proof of service and any 

addendum containing opinions, [etc.,] signature blocks or any other similar 

supplementary matter provided for by these rules shall not count against the word count 

limitations set forth in [subdivision] paragraph (a) of this rule. 

(c) Size and physical characteristics. Size and other physical characteristics of briefs 

shall comply with [Rule] Pa.R.A.P. 124. 

(d) [Certificate of compliance. A principal brief that does not exceed 30 pages 

when produced by a word processor or typewriter shall be deemed to meet the 

limitations in paragraph (a)(1). The first brief of the deemed or designated 

appellee and the second brief of the deemed or designated appellant that does 

not exceed 35 pages shall be deemed to meet the limitations in paragraph (a)(2). 

A reply brief that does not exceed 15 pages when produced on a word processor 
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or typewriter shall be deemed to meet the limitation in paragraph (a)(3). In all 

other cases, the attorney or the unrepresented filing party shall include a 

certification that the brief complies with the word count limits. The certificate 

may be based on the word count of the word processing system used to prepare 

the brief.] Certification of compliance. Any brief in excess of the stated page 

limits shall include a certification that the brief complies with the word count 

limits. The certificate may be based on the word count of the word processing 

system used to prepare the brief.

 Official Note 

 A principal brief is any party’s initial brief and, in the case of a cross appeal, the 

appellant’s second brief, which responds to the initial brief in the cross appeal. See the 

note to [Rule] Pa.R.A.P. 2136 [(briefs in cases involving cross appeals)]. Reply 

briefs permitted by [Rule] Pa.R.A.P. 2113 [(reply brief)] and any subsequent brief 

permitted by leave of court are subject to the word count limit or page limit set by this 

rule. 

 A party filing a certificate of compliance under this rule may rely on the word 

count of the word processing system used to prepare the brief

 [The 2013 amendments changed the method by which the length of principal 

and reply briefs will be measured from a page count method to a word count 

method. A principal brief may not exceed 14,000 words and a reply brief may not 

exceed 7,000 words. More words are permitted in certain briefs in cross appeals. 

This rule includes a requirement that the attorney or unrepresented filing party

include a certificate of compliance with briefs filed pursuant to the word count 

limitations. The rule makes an exception to the certification requirement when a 

principal brief does not exceed 30 pages, a reply brief does not exceed 15 pages 

or the first brief of the deemed or designated appellee and the second brief of the 

deemed or designated appellant do not exceed 35 pages; such briefs will be 

deemed to meet the word count requirement.] 

 It is important to note that each appellate court has the option of reducing the word 

count for a brief, either by general rule, see Chapter 33 (Business of the Supreme 

Court), Chapter 35 (Business of the Superior Court), and Chapter 37 (Business of the 

Commonwealth Court), or by order in a particular case.