How many words should a blog post be for SEO?

For competitive topics, aim for 1,500 to 2,500 words. For informational content, 800 to 1,200 words is often sufficient. For in-depth guides or pillar pages, 2,500 to 5,000+ words can rank well. Match the length to user intent rather than hitting an arbitrary target.

What is the average reading speed?

The average adult reading speed is approximately 200 to 250 words per minute. This tool uses 200 words per minute to calculate estimated reading time.

Does character count matter for SEO?

Character count matters for specific SEO fields: title tags should be under 60 characters, meta descriptions under 155 characters, and Twitter posts under 280 characters. For body content, word count is more relevant than character count.

How do I count words in Google Docs?

In Google Docs, go to Tools > Word Count (Ctrl+Shift+C on Windows, Cmd+Shift+C on Mac). Alternatively, paste your text into this free word counter for instant results including character count, sentence count, paragraph count and reading time.

Content SEO Real-Time

Word Counter

Count words, characters, sentences and reading time instantly.

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Stats update automatically as you type

SEO Content Length Benchmarks

Product page 300 – 500 words

Blog post (short) 800 – 1,200 words

Blog post (ideal) 1,500 – 2,500 words

Pillar / guide 2,500 – 5,000+ words

Meta title limit 60 characters

Meta description limit 155 characters

About This Word Counter

Our free online word counter gives you instant stats on any text — total word count, character count with and without spaces, sentence count, paragraph count, and estimated reading time. Word count matters for SEO because search engines favour comprehensive content. Blog posts of 1500 to 2500 words tend to rank better than thin content under 500 words. Simply paste your content into the box below and all stats update in real time as you type — no button click needed. Free to use, no signup required.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does word count matter for SEO?

Longer, in-depth content tends to cover a topic more comprehensively, attracts more backlinks, and ranks for more long-tail keyword variations. Studies show pages ranking in Google's top positions average 1,500–2,500 words. However, quality and relevance always outweigh raw word count.

How many words should a blog post have for SEO?

For competitive keywords, aim for 1,500–2,500 words. For simple informational queries, 800–1,200 words is often enough. Always match content length to the user's intent — a comprehensive pillar page warrants 3,000+ words, while a quick answer post might only need 600.

What reading speed does this tool use?

This word counter calculates reading time at 200 words per minute, which is the commonly cited average adult reading speed for online content. Actual reading time varies by content complexity and audience.

How do I count words in a document?

Paste your text directly into this free online word counter. It works on any device and browser without installing anything. Alternatively: Google Docs uses Tools → Word Count (Ctrl+Shift+C), Microsoft Word shows the count in the status bar at the bottom, and most CMS platforms like WordPress show a live word count in the editor.

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Live Stats

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SEO Sweet Spot

Aim for 1,500–2,500 words