How to Check Word Count in Google Docs (4 Easy Methods)

Why You Might Need This

If you write school essays, blog posts, or client work in Google Docs, you will run into a word limit sooner or later. A teacher asks for 1,000 words. A client pays per 500 words. A job application says "300 words or less." In each case, you need a fast way to see how much you have written.

The good news is that Google Docs has a built-in counter. You do not need an add-on or a separate app. Below are four easy ways to check the word count in Google Docs, from fastest to most thorough.

Method 1: The Keyboard Shortcut (Fastest)

The quickest way to see the number of words is a keyboard shortcut. Press it while your document is open:

Windows and Linux: Ctrl + Shift + C
Mac: Cmd + Shift + C

A small window pops up showing your total words, characters, and pages. Click "OK" or "Cancel" to close it. If you want to count only part of your text, highlight that section first and then press the shortcut. The numbers will apply to the selection only.

Method 2: The Tools Menu

If you prefer menus over shortcuts, use this path:

Open your document in Google Docs.
Click Tools in the top menu bar.
Click Word count.

The same pop-up window appears, with totals for pages, words, characters, and characters without spaces. Click "OK" when you are done.

According to Google's official help page for the feature, the counter covers everything in the document except headers, footers, and footnotes (source: Google Docs Help, Count the words in a document). The same page notes that this feature is only available in Google Docs, not in Google Sheets or Google Slides.

Method 3: Live Count While You Type

Opening a window every time gets old if you are drafting a long essay. Instead, you can pin a small counter to the bottom-left corner of the screen that updates as you write.

Open the counter with the shortcut (Ctrl + Shift + C) or through Tools > Word count.
Check the box labeled "Display word count while typing."
Click "OK."

A small box now sits in the bottom-left corner. Click it to switch between showing pages, words, characters, or characters without spaces. To remove it, click the box again and choose "Hide word count." This is the best option when you are working toward a target and want to see your progress without stopping.

Method 4: The Mobile App

The Google Docs app on iPhone and Android has the counter too:

Open the document in the app.
Tap the More icon (three dots).
Tap Word count to see words, characters, and characters without spaces.

One thing to know: in the mobile app you cannot pin the counter to the screen while typing, so you will need to open it each time. The desktop version is the better choice for long writing sessions.

What the Built-in Counter Does Not Do

The Docs counter is fine for everyday use, but it has limits worth knowing:

It cannot count words in other file types. If your text is in a PDF, an image, or a scanned page, Docs will not help until you paste the text somewhere first.
It does not tell you about reading level or keyword usage. For blog posts and SEO writing, writers often also want to know keyword density or sentence counts.
It excludes headers, footers, and footnotes. If those parts matter for your limit, you need another tool.

For those cases, a free online word counter is the simpler path. Paste your text into our Word Counter and you get words, characters, sentences, paragraphs, and reading time instantly, with no sign-up and no file to upload.

Quick Tips

Highlight first for a section count. Select any part of your document, then press Ctrl + Shift + C to get numbers for that part only.
Watch characters without spaces for limits. Some platforms, like social media bios or ad headlines, count characters instead of words. The Docs window shows both.
The shortcut works in most browsers. It works in Chrome, Edge, and Firefox, as long as Google Docs has focus and not another tab.

Final Thoughts

Checking your word count in Google Docs takes two seconds once you know the shortcut. For daily writing, pin the live counter and forget about it. And when you need more detail than Docs provides, reach for a dedicated counter tool. Either way, you will never have to guess whether you hit the limit again.