How Many Words Should a Blog Post Be? Word Count and SEO
Few SEO questions cause as much worry as word count. Should every post be 2,000 words? Is 500 too thin? The honest answer is that there is no magic number. Length matters only as far as it helps you answer the reader's question completely. This guide explains how to choose a sensible length for each post.
What Google says
Google has said that word count is not a ranking factor and that there is no minimum or maximum length. Pages rank because they satisfy the search, not because they hit a number. A short page that fully answers a quick question can outrank a long one that wanders.
Why long posts often do well anyway
Studies of ranking pages often find that top results tend to be fairly long. That is mostly a side effect: complex topics need more room, and thorough pages naturally attract more links, shares and visits. Length is a result of depth, not a cause of rankings, so padding a post will not help.
Typical lengths by content type
- Quick answers and news: 300 to 700 words.
- Standard blog posts and how-tos: 800 to 1,500 words.
- In-depth guides and comparisons: 1,500 to 3,000 words or more.
- Product or tool pages: as long as needed to explain it clearly, often 300 to 800 words.
These are guidelines, not rules. Use them as a starting point and adjust to the topic.
How to choose the right length
- Search your target keyword and open the top results.
- Note how they are structured and what questions they answer.
- List anything important they miss.
- Write enough to cover all of it clearly, and stop there.
If your outline covers the topic better than competitors, length will take care of itself.
Quality over padding
Do not repeat points, add long introductions or fill space with vague sentences just to reach a target. Readers leave quickly when they feel their time is wasted. Use short paragraphs, clear subheadings, lists and examples so even a long post is easy to scan.
Check word count and reading time
Paste your draft into our Word Counter to see words, characters and estimated reading time. Most adults read around 200 to 250 words per minute, so a 1,500-word post takes about six to seven minutes. You can also check how often your main phrase appears with the Keyword Density Checker.
Conclusion
Write as many words as the topic deserves and no more. Focus on answering the question better than anyone else, and keep your structure easy to read. For ideas on topics, see How to Do Keyword Research for Free.