For a strip? Well that all depends.
I usually do about 4 but I find an odd number is easier to work with. It depends on timing, and other things.

If you've got a wait or long time lapse, you'd want to use more, smaller panels, things like that. I think thats really a comic to comic thing to decide.

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Gallery Director - Comics and Cartoons
=Comicslist - Online Comics, Manga and Fancomics listing (on and off DA).
gurukitty.com - Daqueran Webcomic

Thanks for your advice, At the moment I am on a tiny epic quest to find a layout that's pleasing to the eye. But I just need to get on with some cartoons really and see what happens.

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"if you don't like pie, get out of my shop!"

It really depends on what's going on in the scene. Not every page should be the same layout, either, as that becomes boring, and doesn't fit plots very well.

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Everything's nothing without you.

Unless it's humorous, but even then you probably want to vary things.

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Everything's nothing without you.

It doesn't matter, it never matter the number of panels you use. It's how effectively you use them, as 1 or 20. A panel is not a limitant but a tool.
Think of your pacing, your timming, how much you want to show, etc... and the layout will come up by itself.

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"Talent is like the shooter that hits a target the others can't reach; genius is like the shooter that hits a target the others can't see." -- Schopenhauer

It might help to write a script as if you were shooting a film then thinking how many 'shots' you need. Keep in mind that you may need more than one panel to show movement whereas in a film it would be just one shot.

I'd say three or four. Any more and it might become too complicated for a simple strip, and any less might just make it dull. Penny Arcade works really well with an average of three panels. They have the setup, the joke, then the punchline (for the most part). Azumanga Daioh is the master at four panel strips. Even if you're not an anime/manga person, I highly suggest checking them out just 'cause they use the format so well.

(I personally prefer four panel, but that's only because I'm using the format for my own comic.)

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"I see we're spelling hallowed with a pound sign in the middle of it."

*ryuuart.com*

one is the best

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THERE CAN NEVER BE A PORTRAIT OF MY LOVE
FOR NO ONE CAN PAINT A DREAM

I've seen 9, and even more used effectively in a page, it depends on the situation.

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Jesse Acosta
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