Word count and reading time

There is no single right answer to “how long should a blog post be?”. Search engines judge how well a page answers the question, not its word count.

The topic sets the length

A short question such as “what is my IP address” can be answered in a few paragraphs; a migration guide needs step-by-step detail. Rather than chasing a competitor average, make sure you answer every sub-question a reader will have and cut needless repetition.

Reading time

Adults read about 200–250 words per minute on screen, depending on language and difficulty. Stating an estimated reading time at the top tells readers how much time to set aside.

Sentence length and readability

On mobile, sentences over 25 words are hard to follow. Split long sentences, keep paragraphs to 3–4 sentences and use subheadings so the text can be scanned.

Keyword density

Repeating a word artificially no longer works and annoys readers. Use the main term naturally in the title and first paragraph, then use synonyms and related concepts. If one word exceeds 3–4% of the text, it is worth a review.

The word and character counter calculates words, characters, sentences, paragraphs, reading time and the most frequent words in your browser.