# How to Count Words in Google Docs

> In Google Docs, open Tools then Word count, or press Ctrl+Shift+C on Windows or Command+Shift+C on Mac. You can also tick “Display word count while typing” to keep a live counter on screen.

- URL: https://wordcounter.pk/guides/how-to-count-words-in-google-docs/
- Type: Guide
- Updated: 2026-10-15

**Short answer:** Press Ctrl+Shift+C (Windows) or Command+Shift+C (Mac), or choose Tools, then Word count.

## Open the word count

- Open your document in Google Docs.
- Click **Tools**, then **Word count**, or use the shortcut.
- Read pages, words, characters and characters excluding spaces.
- Tick **Display word count while typing** to pin a counter at the bottom left.

## Counting a selection

Highlight the text you want to measure and open the dialog again: it shows the count for the selection alongside the total. This is the way to exclude a reference list or a title page. Footnotes can be included by ticking the footnote option in the dialog.

## Differences to expect

Google Docs treats an em dash as a separator, so a document with many unspaced em dashes will show more words than the same document in Word. See [How Google Docs Counts Words](https://wordcounter.pk/guides/how-google-docs-counts-words/) for more details. For a second opinion, paste the text into the [Word Counter](https://wordcounter.pk/); to convert a count to pages, use the [Words to Pages Converter](https://wordcounter.pk/words-to-pages/) converter.

## Counting on mobile

In the Google Docs app, open the menu, tap Word count and read the same figures. On phones, the live display is not available, so check at the end of a writing session.

## Frequently asked questions

### What is the Google Docs word count shortcut?

Ctrl+Shift+C on Windows, Command+Shift+C on Mac.

### Can I see the count while typing?

Yes, tick the option in the dialog.

### Does Docs include footnotes?

Only if you choose to.

## Related

- [How Google Docs Counts Words](https://wordcounter.pk/guides/how-google-docs-counts-words/index.md): Google Docs’ word-counting behaviour compared with Word.
- [How to Count Words in Microsoft Word](https://wordcounter.pk/guides/how-to-count-words-in-microsoft-word/index.md): Status bar, shortcut and dialog for counting words in Word.
- [Word Counter](https://wordcounter.pk/index.md): The main free word counter for English, Urdu and Roman Urdu.
- [Words to Pages Converter](https://wordcounter.pk/words-to-pages/index.md): Convert a word count to pages at single, 1.5 or double spacing.
- [What Is a Word Counter?](https://wordcounter.pk/guides/what-is-a-word-counter/index.md): Definition, how a word counter works and the units it measures.
- [How Word Count Is Calculated](https://wordcounter.pk/guides/how-word-count-is-calculated/index.md): The step-by-step logic behind word counts, with edge-case examples.
- [What Counts as One Word](https://wordcounter.pk/guides/what-counts-as-one-word/index.md): Quick-reference rules for contractions, hyphens, numbers, URLs and symbols.
- [Do Hyphenated Words Count as One or Two?](https://wordcounter.pk/guides/do-hyphenated-words-count-as-one-or-two/index.md): How hyphens, en dashes and em dashes affect word counts.

## Images

- ![How to Count Words in Google Docs: Menu, shortcut and live count for Google Docs. (WordCounter.pk cover graphic)](https://wordcounter.pk/img/how-to-count-words-in-google-docs/how-to-count-words-in-google-docs-cover-1200.webp)
- ![What this guide covers: Open the word count; Counting a selection; Differences to expect](https://wordcounter.pk/img/how-to-count-words-in-google-docs/how-to-count-words-in-google-docs-how-it-works-1200.webp)
- ![Quick facts: How to Count Words in Google Docs: What is the Google Docs word count shortcut?; Can I see the count while typing?; Does Docs include footnotes?](https://wordcounter.pk/img/how-to-count-words-in-google-docs/how-to-count-words-in-google-docs-reference-1200.webp)
- ![Map showing how How to Count Words in Google Docs connects to Writing Guides, How Google Docs Counts Words, How to Count Words in Microsoft Word, Word Counter and more on WordCounter.pk](https://wordcounter.pk/img/how-to-count-words-in-google-docs/how-to-count-words-in-google-docs-related-tools-map-1200.webp)
- ![Quick answer card: What is the Google Docs word count shortcut? Ctrl+Shift+C on Windows, Command+Shift+C on Mac.](https://wordcounter.pk/img/how-to-count-words-in-google-docs/how-to-count-words-in-google-docs-quick-answer-1200.webp)