How to Check Word Count in Microsoft Word (and What the Count Includes)

Microsoft Word counts your words automatically as you type — you just need to know where to look. Whether you are checking an essay against a word limit, trimming a report, or just curious how long your document has become, Word gives you the number in two clicks, plus a detailed breakdown when you need it.

This guide shows you every way to check the word count in Microsoft Word, explains exactly what the count includes, and answers the questions students ask most. If you use Google Docs instead, our guide on how to check word count in Google Docs covers that app step by step.

Method 1: The Status Bar (Fastest Way)

Look at the bottom-left corner of your Word window. The status bar shows a live word count that updates as you type — something like "1,247 words".

  • If you do not see it, right-click the status bar and tick "Word Count" in the menu that appears.
  • This number counts the whole document, and it is always visible while you work, so it is the best option when you are writing to a limit.

Method 2: The Word Count Dialog Box (Full Breakdown)

For the full picture, use the Word Count dialog box:

  1. Go to the Review tab on the ribbon.
  2. Click Word Count in the Proofing group.
  3. A dialog box opens showing pages, words, characters (no spaces), characters (with spaces), paragraphs, and lines.

This is the number most teachers and editors mean when they ask for a word count: the "Words" figure in this dialog box. It is also the place to check characters and paragraphs without counting anything by hand.

Method 3: Count Only Selected Text

Need the count for one section, not the whole document? Select the text first, then look at the status bar or open the Word Count dialog box. Word will show something like "312 of 1,247 words" — the first number is your selection, the second is the whole document.

This is the easiest way to check a single paragraph, a chapter, or a quotation against a limit, without deleting or copying anything out of your document.

What the Word Count Includes (and What It Does Not)

Word’s count covers the main body text of your document. Two optional extras live in the Word Count dialog box as a checkbox:

  • Include textboxes, footnotes and endnotes. Tick this box and Word adds the words inside text boxes, footnotes, and endnotes to the total. Leave it unticked and they are left out.

That checkbox is the most common reason two people get different counts for the same document — one of them has it ticked and the other does not. If your count looks wrong, check that box first.

A few more things worth knowing:

  • Headers and footers are not included in the main word count.
  • Numbers count as words. A year like 2026 counts toward the total, just as it does in most other word counters.
  • Words joined by a hyphen are generally counted as a single word by Word, which is one reason Word’s count can differ slightly from another tool’s count.

Why Word’s Count Differs From Other Tools

If you paste the same text into Word and into an online counter and get two different numbers, neither tool is broken. Different tools define a "word" slightly differently: some split hyphenated words in two, some count numbers differently, and some include or exclude footnotes by default.

For school and work, the rule is simple: use the count from the tool your teacher or editor will use. If they asked for a Word document, trust Word’s count. If you want extra statistics Word does not show — like reading time, speaking time, or sentence counts — a free word counter gives you those in one paste.

Word Count in Word for the Web

If you use Word in a browser, the word count still appears in the status bar at the bottom of the screen. Click it to open a count dialog with words and characters. The desktop app’s Review tab method is not available in the web version, but the status bar count works the same way.

Quick Tips for Writing to a Word Limit

  • Check early, not at the end. Glance at the status bar while you draft, so a 500-word overrun never surprises you the night before submission.
  • Use selection counts for sections. If your essay needs 300 words of introduction, select the introduction and read its count directly.
  • Remember the checkbox. Before submitting, decide whether your footnotes should count, and set the checkbox to match your assignment’s rules.
  • Do not trust the status bar alone for the final check. Open the Word Count dialog box once at the end to confirm the exact figure, including your choice about textboxes and footnotes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is the word count in Microsoft Word?

In the status bar at the bottom-left of the Word window. If it is not visible, right-click the status bar and tick "Word Count". For a full breakdown, go to Review, then Word Count.

How do I check the word count of selected text in Word?

Select the text, then look at the status bar — it shows the selected count first, then the total, for example "312 of 1,247 words". The Word Count dialog box shows the same selection count.

Does Microsoft Word count footnotes in the word count?

Only if you ask it to. In the Word Count dialog box, tick "Include textboxes, footnotes and endnotes" to add them. By default, footnotes and endnotes are not included.

Does Word count characters as well as words?

Yes. The Word Count dialog box shows characters without spaces and characters with spaces, alongside pages, words, paragraphs, and lines. The status bar itself shows only the word count.

Why is my Word count different from an online word counter?

Different tools define a "word" slightly differently — for example, how they treat hyphenated words, numbers, and footnotes. Use the count from the tool your teacher or editor will use, and treat other counters as a cross-check.

The Two-Second Version

Bottom-left corner for the live count, Review then Word Count for the full breakdown, select text first to count just one section, and check the "include textboxes, footnotes and endnotes" box before you trust the final number. That is everything you need to check a word count in Microsoft Word — and if you want reading time and sentence stats on top, paste your text into a free word counter for the deeper numbers.