Whether you're writing an essay with a 1,000-word minimum, crafting a tweet that fits 280 characters, or submitting a 500-word blog post, knowing your word count is essential. Most apps have a built-in counter — but they're not always easy to find.
How to Count Words in Google Docs
Google Docs has a built-in word count tool. Here's how to access it:
- 1Open your document in Google Docs.
- 2Click Tools in the top menu.
- 3Select Word count (or press
Ctrl+Shift+Con Windows /Cmd+Shift+Con Mac). - 4A dialog box shows page count, word count, and character count (with and without spaces).
You can also enable Display word count while typing in the same dialog, which shows a live counter in the bottom-left corner of the document.
How to Count Words in Microsoft Word
Microsoft Word displays word count in the status bar at the bottom of the window by default. If you don't see it:
- 1Right-click on the status bar at the bottom.
- 2Check Word Count from the context menu.
- 3Alternatively, go to Review tab → Word Count in the ribbon.
How to Count Words in Notion
Notion does not have a native word count feature. The easiest workaround:
- Copy your text from Notion.
- Paste it into a free online word counter.
- Instantly see word count, character count, and reading time.
Free tools mentioned in this article
The Fastest Option: Online Word Counter
If you need to count words from any source — copy-pasted content, emails, social media drafts — an online word counter is the fastest option. Our free tool gives you:
- Word count, character count (with and without spaces)
- Sentence and paragraph count
- Estimated reading time
- Keyword density analysis
Everything runs in your browser — your text is never sent to any server.
Pro Tips for Accurate Word Counts
- Hyphenated words: "well-being" counts as one or two words depending on the tool.
- Numbers: "1,000" counts as one word; "one thousand" counts as two.
- URLs: Long URLs can inflate your word count — strip them if needed.
- Headings: Some tools count heading text separately from body text.
Conclusion
Counting words is simple once you know where to look. Google Docs and Word both have built-in counters; Notion users need a third-party tool. For any situation, paste your text into our free word counter for an instant, accurate count — no account required.
