How Many Words Should a Blog Post Be?
A blog post should be as long as it takes to fully answer the reader’s question, and no longer. There is no perfect number. Google’s own guide to helpful content asks whether you are writing to a particular word count because you heard Google prefers one, and answers plainly that it doesn’t.
That said, you still need a rough target when you sit down to write. A target helps you plan your time and notice when a post has gone off track. Here is how to choose one.
Start with what the reader wants
Ask what the person typing the search wants to walk away with.
- A quick fact, such as “how many ounces in a cup”, needs a short, direct answer.
- A how-to needs every step, and nothing else.
- A comparison needs enough detail to make a decision.
- A big topic, such as “how to start a business”, needs depth.
The same subject can need different lengths. “What is a PDF?” can be answered in a few paragraphs. “How to edit a PDF in Word” needs steps, options and warnings about what can go wrong.
Check what already ranks
Search for your topic and read the top few results. Don’t copy their length. Instead, look for three things:
- The questions they answer. These are what readers expect to find.
- The format they use. Steps, a table or a list may suit the topic best.
- What they miss. A missing example or an honest warning is your chance to be more useful.
If the best results are short and direct, a 3,000-word essay won’t help. If they are detailed guides, a 300-word post probably won’t satisfy anyone.
Rough ranges by content type
These ranges are rules of thumb from common publishing practice, not research or a Google rule. Treat them as starting points.
| Type of content | Typical length |
|---|---|
| News or a short update | 300 to 600 words |
| Simple how-to | 600 to 1,200 words |
| Detailed guide | 1,500 to 2,500 words |
| Complete resource on a big topic | 3,000 words or more |
How long will it take to read?
Word count also tells you how much time you are asking for. A 2019 review of 190 reading studies estimated that adults read English non-fiction silently at about 238 words per minute. Our word counter uses that figure for its reading time.
| Word count | Approximate reading time |
|---|---|
| 500 words | 2 minutes |
| 1,000 words | 4 minutes |
| 1,500 words | 6 minutes |
| 2,500 words | 10 to 11 minutes |
Reading on a phone, reading in a second language or following technical steps can take longer. Many people scan first, so your headings need to make sense on their own.
Signs your post is too long
- The introduction takes several paragraphs to reach the point.
- You repeat the same idea in different words.
- Sections exist only to reach a word count.
- You cover a second topic that deserves its own post.
To fix this, delete your first paragraph and see whether the post still makes sense. It often does. Then cut anything a reader could skip without missing a step or a decision.
Signs your post is too short
- A reader would still need to search again afterwards.
- You state advice without explaining how to follow it.
- You skip common problems or questions.
- There are no examples.
To fix this, add one real example, then answer the next question a reader is likely to ask. Stop when you run out of useful things to say, not when you reach a number.
A simple way to write to the right length
- Write down the one question your post answers.
- List the points a reader needs, in order.
- Give each point a heading and write only what it needs.
- Add one example or table where it makes things clearer.
- Check your total with a word counter and look at your most used words.
- Read it aloud and cut anything that sounds like padding.
Looking at your most used words is a quick way to spot repetition. If one word appears far more often than it should, the writing may sound forced, and that is a good place to edit.
Our answer
For most blogs, 800 to 1,500 words is a sensible place to start, because it gives you room for steps and examples without padding. Then let the topic decide. Write first, check your count second, and if the post answers the question, the number is right.