How to Word Count on Google Docs

Whether you are working on an essay, a blog article, or a professional report, checking your word count in Google Docs takes just seconds. You can either check the total words and characters in a pop-up window or keep a live counter visible on your screen as you type.

Quick Answer: How to Do a Word Count on Google Docs

Quick Answer: In Google Docs, press the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + Shift + C on Windows and Chromebook, or ⌘ + Shift + C on Mac. Or click Tools → Word count in the top menu. This immediately opens the statistics box with pages, words, Characters, and Characters excluding spaces.

Method 1: Keyboard Shortcut (Fastest Way)

The quickest way to check your word count without taking your hands off the keyboard:

• Windows & Chromebook: Ctrl + Shift + C
• Mac (macOS): ⌘ + Shift + C
• Linux: Ctrl + Shift + C

Method 2: Via the Tools Menu

1. Open your document in Google Docs.
2. Click on Tools in the top menu bar.
3. Select Word count.
4. A dialog box will appear listing Pages, Words, Characters, and Characters excluding spaces.

Display Word Count Continuously While Typing

If you have a strict word goal or character limit, you can keep a floating counter visible in the bottom-left corner of your document:

1. Open the Word count box via Ctrl + Shift + C or Tools → Word count.
2. Check the box for “Display word count while typing”.
3. Click OK.
4. A small widget now stays docked at the bottom-left corner of your editor. Click on it to switch between words, characters, or page count.

Character Count in Google Docs (With vs. Without Spaces)

Google Docs provides two separate character counts: Characters (which includes every space and punctuation mark, vital for SMS or social media limits) and Characters excluding spaces (pure letters, numbers, and punctuation, commonly requested by publishers, academic submissions, and translation agencies).

How to Word Count Highlighted Text in Google Docs

To count words or characters for a single paragraph, introduction, or citation: highlight the text with your mouse or keyboard, then press Ctrl + Shift + C. The counter will display your selected count alongside the document total (e.g., “120 of 1,500 words”).

How to Word Count on Google Docs Mobile App (iOS & Android)

On your smartphone or tablet, open the document in the Google Docs app. Tap the three vertical dots (⋮) in the top-right corner, then tap Word count. The screen will display pages, words, characters, and characters excluding spaces.

Google Docs vs. Dedicated Online Counter

While Google Docs is great for general word counting, it requires an active internet connection and lacks advanced metrics like reading time, speaking duration, and automated goal-progress bars. If you need privacy-friendly, client-side text analysis or custom limits, paste your text into our counter below.