How to check word count on Google Docs
Here is how to check word count on Google Docs — and how to see word count on Google Docs live while you type. The counter is hidden behind a menu and the always-visible count is off by default; every way to get your count, on desktop and mobile.
The fastest way: a keyboard shortcut
Press Ctrl+Shift+C (Windows, Chromebook and Linux) or ⌘+Shift+C (Mac) and the Word count dialog opens instantly, showing pages, words, characters, and characters excluding spaces. The same dialog is in the menu under Tools → Word count. It counts the whole document — or just your selection, if you highlight text first.
Keep a live count on screen while you write
In the Word count dialog, tick "Display word count while typing" and click OK. A small counter appears at the bottom-left corner of the document and updates as you type; click it to switch between words, pages, and characters. The setting is per-document — a new document starts with it off again, which is why so few people know it exists.
Counting a selection, and what Docs skips
Select any passage before opening the dialog and Docs shows "X of Y words" — the selection against the whole document. Two things Google Docs never counts: headers/footers and footnotes. If your assignment counts footnotes toward the limit, Docs will under-report — paste the text into an independent counter to check the full figure.
On mobile, and when you need more detail
In the Google Docs app, tap the three-dot menu (⋮) top right, then Word count. iOS and Android both show words and characters; there's no live counter on mobile. For sentence, paragraph and reading-time figures Docs doesn't provide at all, paste your text into the counter below — it runs in your browser, and your text is never uploaded.
Word count in Google Docs at a glance
| Open the dialog | Ctrl+Shift+C / ⌘+Shift+C, or Tools → Word count |
| Live on-screen counter | Word count dialog → tick "Display word count while typing" |
| Count a selection | Highlight text first — dialog shows "X of Y words" |
| Mobile app | ⋮ menu → Word count (no live counter on mobile) |
| Not counted by Docs | Headers, footers, footnotes |
| Sentences, paragraphs, reading time | Not available in Docs — use a full text counter |
| Counted | Body text, titles and headings, lists, tables |
| Not counted | Headers, footers, footnotes, comments, suggested edits until accepted |
What is the word count shortcut in Google Docs?
Ctrl+Shift+C on Windows and Chromebook, ⌘+Shift+C on Mac. It opens the same dialog as Tools → Word count, including the option to display a live count while typing.
Why does my word count disappear when I open the document again?
The "Display word count while typing" setting is saved per document, and new documents start with it off. Tick it again in the Word count dialog — there's no global setting to keep it always on.
Does Google Docs count footnotes in the word count?
No. Google Docs skips footnotes, headers and footers entirely. If those count toward your limit, check the text in an independent counter — Microsoft Word, by contrast, can include footnotes when the checkbox in its dialog is ticked.
Can Google Docs show characters instead of words?
Yes — the Word count dialog lists characters with and without spaces, and the live counter can be switched to characters by clicking it and choosing from the dropdown.
Do comments and suggested edits count in Google Docs?
No. Comments live outside the document body and are never counted. Text inserted as a suggestion is only counted after it's accepted — so a draft full of pending suggestions can show a much lower word count than the final version will have. To check what the final count would be, paste the text into the word counter here: it counts exactly what you paste, suggestions included.