Google Docs makes word counting easy with built-in tools, keyboard shortcuts, and a live counter feature that displays your word count as you type. The fastest method is pressing Ctrl+Shift+C on Windows (or Cmd+Shift+C on Mac), which instantly shows your document’s word count, character count, and more.

This guide covers every method for counting words in Google Docs, plus hidden features that can transform your writing workflow.

The Fastest Method: Keyboard Shortcut

For instant word count access, use these keyboard shortcuts:

Windows/Chromebook/Linux: Ctrl + Shift + C

Mac: Cmd + Shift + C

This immediately opens the Word Count dialog box displaying:

  • Total pages
  • Total words
  • Characters (excluding spaces)
  • Characters (including spaces)

This is the method most power users rely on—memorize it and checking word count becomes effortless.

Method 2: Using the Menu

If you prefer using menus or can’t remember the shortcut:

  1. Click Tools in the top menu bar
  2. Select Word count from the dropdown
  3. View your statistics in the popup window

The menu method shows the same information as the keyboard shortcut but takes a few more clicks.

Method 3: Enable Live Word Count Display

The most powerful feature many users miss is Google Docs’ live word count display:

To enable:

  1. Open the Word Count dialog (Ctrl+Shift+C or Tools → Word count)
  2. Check the box labeled “Display word count while typing”
  3. Click OK

A small word count indicator now appears at the bottom-left corner of your document. It updates automatically as you type, giving you constant awareness of your word count without opening any dialogs.

To interact with the live counter:

  • Click on it to see the full statistics (pages, characters, etc.)
  • Click the arrow to switch between displaying words, characters with spaces, or characters without spaces

This feature is invaluable when writing to specific word count requirements.

Counting Words in Selected Text Only

Need the word count for just a section of your document? Google Docs handles this seamlessly:

  1. Highlight the text you want to count
  2. Use the keyboard shortcut (Ctrl+Shift+C) or go to Tools → Word count
  3. The dialog shows counts for your selection only

The dialog clearly indicates it’s counting “selected text” when you have something highlighted. This is perfect for:

  • Checking individual paragraph lengths
  • Verifying section requirements
  • Counting specific quotes or excerpts

If you have live word count enabled, it also updates to show the selected text’s count when you highlight something.

Understanding Characters vs. Words

Google Docs provides both character counts:

Characters (no spaces):

  • Counts letters, numbers, and punctuation
  • Excludes all spaces
  • Use for: Some academic requirements, translation pricing, specific platform limits

Characters (with spaces):

  • Counts everything including spaces
  • The standard measure for most character limits
  • Use for: Social media limits, meta descriptions, SMS, most platform character requirements

Most character limits you encounter (Twitter, meta descriptions, form fields) count spaces, so “characters including spaces” is usually what you need.

Why Google Docs and Microsoft Word Show Different Counts

If you copy the same text between Google Docs and Microsoft Word, you might notice slightly different word counts. Here’s why:

Hyphenated words:

  • Google Docs: “self-esteem” = 1 word
  • Microsoft Word: Often counts as 1 word, but behavior can vary

Em dashes:

  • “word—word” might count as 2 words or 1 depending on the tool

Special characters:

  • Different tools treat bullets, special Unicode characters, and symbols differently

Line breaks:

  • How paragraph breaks are counted can vary

The differences are typically small (within 1-2%), but for strict word limits, always check your count in the final submission platform.

Tips for Efficient Word Count Monitoring

Set up live count from the start: Enable “Display word count while typing” before you begin writing, especially for assignments with strict limits.

Use selection counting for sections: For structured documents with section-specific requirements, highlight and check each section individually.

Create a reference system: For long documents, keep a simple spreadsheet tracking section word counts if you have multiple length requirements.

Remember the shortcut: Ctrl+Shift+C (Cmd+Shift+C on Mac) becomes second nature quickly and saves significant time over menu navigation.

Word Count in Google Docs Mobile App

The Google Docs mobile app also offers word count functionality:

On Android and iOS:

  1. Open your document
  2. Tap the three-dot menu (⋮ or …) in the top-right corner
  3. Select “Word count”

The mobile version shows words and characters but doesn’t currently support the live display feature available on desktop.

Workarounds for Additional Statistics

Google Docs’ word count doesn’t include some metrics you might need:

Reading time: Google Docs doesn’t show reading time, but you can calculate it:

  • Average reading speed: 238 words per minute
  • Formula: Total words ÷ 238 = reading time in minutes

Sentence count: Not available in Google Docs’ word count. For this metric, use an online text analyzer that provides sentence counting.

Paragraph count: Google Docs shows pages, not paragraphs. Count paragraphs manually or use an external tool.

Readability scores: For Flesch-Kincaid or other readability metrics, you’ll need to copy your text to a dedicated readability tool or use an add-on.

Google Docs Add-ons for Enhanced Counting

The Google Workspace Marketplace offers add-ons with additional word count features:

Popular options:

  • Word Counter Max: Provides reading time estimates
  • Grammarly for Google Docs: Offers word count plus writing suggestions
  • ProWritingAid: Comprehensive statistics including readability

To install an add-on:

  1. Click Extensions → Add-ons → Get add-ons
  2. Search for word count or writing tools
  3. Click the add-on and select “Install”
  4. Follow the permission prompts

For most users, the built-in word count is sufficient, but add-ons help if you need advanced metrics regularly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Google Docs count words in headers and footers?

No, the main word count does NOT include text in headers, footers, or footnotes. These elements are counted separately only if you select and count them specifically.

Do footnotes count toward the word count?

No, footnotes are NOT included in Google Docs’ total word count by default. If you need to include them, you’ll need to count them separately by selecting the footnote text.

Can I see word count for the entire document and a selection simultaneously?

No, the dialog shows one or the other. With live count enabled, click it to toggle between full document and selected text counts.

Why did my word count change when I copy-pasted from another source?

Pasted text may include hidden characters, special formatting, or different space characters that affect the count. Clean up pasted text if precision matters.

Is there a word count limit in Google Docs?

Google Docs documents can contain up to 1.02 million characters. For most purposes, this isn’t a practical limitation.

How do I count words in a specific column of a table?

Select the cells you want to count (click and drag), then use the word count feature. It will count only the selected table content.

Key Takeaways

  • Use Ctrl+Shift+C (Windows/Chromebook/Linux) or Cmd+Shift+C (Mac) for instant word count access
  • Menu path: Tools → Word Count
  • Mobile: Access via three-dot menu → Word count
  • Enable “Display word count while typing” for a persistent live counter at the bottom of your screen
  • Click the live counter to switch between words and character counts
  • Google Docs provides both character counts (with and without spaces)
  • NOT counted: Headers, footers, and footnotes are excluded from the main word count

Conclusion

Google Docs offers robust word counting that serves most writers’ needs. The keyboard shortcut (Ctrl+Shift+C) provides instant access, while the live count display keeps you constantly informed during writing sessions. For additional metrics like reading time or sentence count, paste your text into a comprehensive text analyzer. Master these features and you’ll never have to guess whether you’re meeting word count requirements. Try our free letter counter → for additional text statistics beyond what Google Docs provides.