How to Count Words in Word, Google Docs and Excel
Updated October 22, 2026
Essays, applications and articles often have a word limit. Here is how to see your word count in the programs people use most, and what each one counts.
Microsoft Word
- The word count is in the status bar at the bottom left of the window. Click it to see pages, words, characters, paragraphs and lines.
- Or go to Review, then Word Count.
- Select part of the text first to count only that part. The status bar shows, for example, 120 of 950 words.
Google Docs
- Open Tools, then Word count, or press Ctrl + Shift + C (Cmd + Shift + C on a Mac).
- Tick Display word count while typing to keep a counter in the corner.
- Select text first to count only the selection.
Excel and Google Sheets
Spreadsheets have no word count button, but a formula works. For the words in cell A1:
| Formula | Counts |
|---|---|
| =LEN(TRIM(A1))-LEN(SUBSTITUTE(A1," ",""))+1 | Words in one cell |
| =LEN(A1) | Characters including spaces |
| =LEN(SUBSTITUTE(A1," ","")) | Characters without spaces |
What counts as a word?
- Most counters treat any group of characters between spaces as a word, so "well-known" is one word and "e-mail" is one word.
- Numbers and symbols standing alone usually count too, so "5" or "&" count as words in some programs and not in others.
- Footnotes, headers and text boxes are included in some programs and not in others, so check the setting if the number matters.
- A difference of a few words between programs is normal. If a limit is strict, stay safely under it.
Count words online
The Word Counter tool shows words, characters, sentences, paragraphs and an estimated reading time as you type or paste, with no limit on length. Use the Character Counter if you need a count with and without spaces, for example for an SMS or a social media post.
Frequently asked questions
How many words is a page?
About 500 words for a single-spaced page and about 250 to 300 for a double-spaced page in a standard 12-point font. Fonts, margins and spacing change this.
How long does it take to read 1,000 words?
Most adults read about 200 to 250 words a minute, so 1,000 words takes roughly four to five minutes. Speaking aloud is slower, at about 130 to 150 words a minute.