Typical lengths by post type
| Post type | Words | Reading time |
|---|---|---|
| News or short update | 300–600 | 1–3 min |
| Standard blog post | 800–1,200 | 3–5 min |
| How-to or explainer | 1,200–1,800 | 5–8 min |
| In-depth guide | 1,800–3,000 | 8–13 min |
| Pillar page | 3,000–5,000 | 13–21 min |
What decides the right length
Search intent comes first. A query that wants a definition or a quick answer is best served by a short, direct page. A query that compares options or explains a process needs depth. Look at what already ranks, as discussed in Does Word Count Affect SEO?, and ask what the best result leaves out. Add that, rather than matching a number.
Structure for long posts
Long posts work when they are easy to scan: a clear introduction that answers the question, descriptive subheadings every 200 to 300 words, short paragraphs, tables and lists where they help, and a summary. Use the Content Brief Word Counter to see words per section and avoid a bloated or thin part. A table of contents helps navigation.
Checking your post
Run the draft through the Blog Word Counter for length and reading time, the Readability Checker for clarity and the Meta Title Length Checker for the title. A post that takes eight minutes to read should deliver eight minutes’ worth of value; if sections feel padded, cut them using the methods in How to Reduce Word Count.
Try it yourself
Put the numbers above to work with these free tools:
Frequently asked questions
How long should a blog post be for SEO?
As long as needed to cover the topic fully.
Is 500 words enough?
For some queries, yes; for competitive topics usually not.
Do readers finish long posts?
Many scan. Structure matters more than length.