Checking the word count in Google Docs makes it easy to monitor your document’s length and stay within specific word limits. This quick guide explains how to access and use the built-in word count feature.
Word count is a simple way to measure the length of a document. For instance, professional marketing materials and product papers often range from 2,500 to 6,000 words, while blog posts commonly fall between 400 and 1,700 words. Conference workshop descriptions and speaker biographies are typically much shorter, often limited to around 100 words.
If you need to meet a specific word limit for an assignment, article, report, or other project, checking the word count regularly can help you stay on target. Google Docs includes a built-in word counter that lets you view the total word count for an entire document or a specific selection of text.
In this guide, you’ll learn how to check the live word count in Google Docs using a web browser, as well as the Google Docs apps for Android and iOS. We’ll also explain which types of content Google Docs includes when calculating the total word count.
How to Check Word Count in Google Docs
Google Docs has a built-in word count tool that works in the web version as well as the Google Docs apps for Android and iOS. You can check the word count for an entire document or a specific section of text in just a few steps.
See also: Google Docs and Microsoft Word provide many similar features, but they also have some key differences.
Check Word Count in Google Docs on a Laptop or Desktop
To view the word count in Google Docs using a web browser:
- Open your document in Google Chrome.
- Click Tools in the top menu.
- Select Word count.
- A window will appear showing the number of pages, words, characters, and characters excluding spaces.
You can also use a keyboard shortcut to open the word count tool. On Windows or ChromeOS, press Ctrl + Shift + C. On a Mac, press Command + Shift + C.
Google Docs also lets you display the word count while you type. Enable the Display word count while typing option in the Word count window, and the current word total will appear in the lower-left corner of the document.
Check Google Docs Word Count on Android
You can quickly view the word count from the Google Docs app on an Android device:
- Open your document in the Google Docs app.
- Tap the three-dot menu in the upper-right corner.
- Select Word count to view the total number of words, characters, and characters excluding spaces.
Check Google Docs Word Count on Android
You can quickly view the word count from the Google Docs app on an Android device:
- Open your document in the Google Docs app.
- Tap the three-dot menu in the upper-right corner.
- Select Word count to view the total number of words, characters, and characters excluding spaces.
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How to Check the Word Count for Selected Text in Google Docs
Google Docs also lets you check the word count for a specific section of your document. Simply highlight the text you want to analyze, then open Tools > Word count or use the appropriate keyboard shortcut.
The Word count window will display the number of words and characters in the selected text, along with the overall totals for the entire document. This makes it easy to track the length of a particular section without losing sight of the document’s total word count.
What’s Included and Excluded in the Word Count?
Google Docs provides several useful statistics to help you track the length of your document, including:
- Word count: The total number of words in the document or selected text.
- Character count: The total number of letters, numbers, symbols, and spaces.
- Characters excluding spaces: The character total without counting spaces.
- Page count: The number of pages in the document, which is available when using Google Docs in a desktop web browser.
Keep in mind that some content is excluded from the Google Docs word count. Text in headers, footers, and footnotes isn’t included in the total. Certain standalone symbols, such as “<” and “>”, are also not counted as words. However, punctuation such as em dashes (—) is included in the word count.
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Google Docs also counts some words within long URLs. For example, a full link to a TechRepublic article can be counted as multiple words rather than a single link. If your document contains many lengthy URLs displayed in full, the word count shown by Google Docs may therefore be higher than a manual count.
Estimating Reading Time Based on Word Count
Your document’s word count can also help you estimate how long it will take someone to read. As a general guideline, an average adult reads approximately 250 words per minute (WPM). Using that estimate, a 1,000-word document would take about four minutes to read.
See also: You can check the word count of selected text or phrases in Microsoft Word as well.
Keep in mind that reading speed depends heavily on the type and complexity of the content. Technical material containing unfamiliar terminology may require more time than a straightforward letter or general-interest article.
For more challenging content or less experienced readers, 200 WPM can provide a reasonable estimate. For simple content and experienced readers, 300 WPM may be a more appropriate benchmark. Adjusting the reading-speed estimate based on your audience and content type can give you a more realistic reading-time calculation.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I check the word count in Google Docs?
Open your document, select Tools > Word count, or use Ctrl + Shift + C on Windows/ChromeOS and Command + Shift + C on Mac.
Can I check the word count for selected text in Google Docs?
Yes. Highlight the section you want to measure and open the Word count tool. Google Docs will show the statistics for the selected text.
Does Google Docs count words in headers and footers?
No. Text in headers, footers, and footnotes is excluded from the Google Docs word count.
Can Google Docs show the word count while I type?
Yes. In the web version, enable Display word count while typing to see the current word total in the lower-left corner of the document.
How accurate is Google Docs word count?
Google Docs provides a useful automated count, but long URLs and certain symbols can affect the total. Documents containing many full-length links may show a higher count than a manual word count.
Conclusion
Checking the word count in Google Docs is a simple way to keep your document within a required length. Whether you’re reviewing an entire document or a specific section, the built-in Word count feature provides quick access to word and character totals. You can also enable live word counting while writing, making it easier to monitor your progress and meet assignment, article, or project requirements.
