5 Best Ways to Count Words in Google Sheets

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 Google Sheets is a powerful tool for managing data, but it doesn’t have a built-in function to count words. If you’re working with text-heavy datasets—such as content marketing plans, word count trackers, or SEO reports—you might need a way to calculate the number of words in a cell, range, or entire sheet.

Luckily, there are several methods to count words in Google Sheets, ranging from simple formulas to advanced Google Apps Script solutions. This guide will walk you through the five best ways to count words in Google Sheets, helping you choose the most effective approach based on your needs.

Why Word Count Matters in Google Sheets

Before diving into the methods, here are some common use cases for counting words in Google Sheets:

  • Content writers and SEO professionals need to track word counts for articles, meta descriptions, and product descriptions.
  • Educators and students use word counts for assignments, reports, and research papers.
  • Project managers and businesses analyze customer feedback, survey responses, and user-generated content.
  • Data analysts work with text-based datasets to extract insights based on word frequency.

Now, let’s explore the best ways to count words in Google Sheets.

1. Use the LEN and SUBSTITUTE Functions (Formula-Based Approach)

Best For:

✅ Counting words in a single cell
✅ Quick and easy calculations without scripts

Google Sheets lacks a direct WORDCOUNT function, but you can use a combination of the LEN and SUBSTITUTE functions to count words in a cell.

Formula Explanation:

The logic behind this formula is simple:

  • The LEN function counts the total number of characters in a cell.
  • The SUBSTITUTE function removes all spaces, and LEN counts the remaining characters.
  • The difference between these values gives the number of spaces, which corresponds to the number of words (assuming words are separated by single spaces).

Formula to Count Words in Cell A1:

excel

=IF(A1<>"", LEN(A1) - LEN(SUBSTITUTE(A1, " ", "")) + 1, 0)

How It Works:

  1. LEN(A1) calculates the total characters in cell A1.
  2. SUBSTITUTE(A1, " ", "") removes all spaces from A1.
  3. LEN(A1) - LEN(SUBSTITUTE(A1, " ", "")) counts the number of spaces.
  4. Adding 1 gives the word count.

Example Usage:

Text in A1Word Count Output
Hello world2
This is a Google Sheets tutorial6
0 (empty cell)

💡 Tip: If your text contains multiple spaces between words, this formula might overcount. Consider cleaning up the text using the TRIM function first.

2. Count Words in a Column Using ARRAYFORMULA

Best For:

✅ Counting words across multiple rows
✅ Automatic updates when new data is added

If you have a list of text entries in column A and want to count words in each row automatically, wrap the formula in an ARRAYFORMULA.

Formula to Count Words in Column A:

excel

=ARRAYFORMULA(IF(A1:A<>"", LEN(A1:A) - LEN(SUBSTITUTE(A1:A, " ", "")) + 1, 0))

How It Works:

  • The ARRAYFORMULA function applies the word count formula to each row in column A.
  • This eliminates the need to manually copy the formula down.

Example Usage:

Column A (Text)Column B (Word Count)
This is a test4
Google Sheets is great4
Counting words made easy4

💡 Tip: If your dataset is large, using an ARRAYFORMULA may slow down performance. Consider filtering data before applying the formula.

3. Count Total Words in a Range (SUM Approach)

Best For:

✅ Getting the total word count for a range of cells
✅ Summarizing word counts for entire columns

If you need the total number of words in a range (e.g., A1:A10), you can sum up the word counts from each row.

Formula to Count Words in Range A1:A10:

excel

=SUM(ARRAYFORMULA(IF(A1:A10<>"", LEN(A1:A10) - LEN(SUBSTITUTE(A1:A10, " ", "")) + 1, 0)))

How It Works:

  • The ARRAYFORMULA applies the word count formula to each cell in A1:A10.
  • The SUM function adds up all the word counts.

Example Usage:

A Column (Text)Word Count
This is text3
Another sentence here3
Google Sheets tutorial3
Total Words9

💡 Tip: Adjust the range (A1:A10) as needed to fit your dataset.

4. Use Google Apps Script for an Advanced Word Count Function

Best For:

✅ Automating word count calculations
✅ Handling large datasets efficiently

If you want a custom function to count words in Google Sheets, you can use Google Apps Script.

Steps to Create a Custom Word Count Function:

  1. Open your Google Sheet.
  2. Click Extensions > Apps Script.
  3. Delete any existing code and paste the following:
javascript

function wordCount(input) {
  if (typeof input !== "string" || input.trim() === "") {
    return 0;
  }
  return input.trim().split(/\s+/).length;
}
  1. Click Save and close the script editor.
  2. Use the new function in your sheet like this:
excel

=wordCount(A1)

Why Use Apps Script?

  • It provides more accurate results, especially for messy data with multiple spaces.
  • It works just like a built-in function (SUM, COUNT, etc.).

5. Use Google Docs for Word Count (Alternative Method)

Best For:

✅ One-time word counts for large text blocks
✅ Users who prefer a visual interface

If you need a word count for a large text block, you can copy and paste the content into Google Docs, which has a built-in word count tool.

Steps:

  1. Copy the text from Google Sheets.
  2. Open Google Docs and paste the content.
  3. Click Tools > Word count or press Ctrl + Shift + C (Windows) / Cmd + Shift + C (Mac).

💡 Tip: While this method isn't automated, it's useful for occasional word count checks.

Final Thoughts

Google Sheets doesn’t have a built-in WORDCOUNT function, but with these five methods, you can efficiently count words based on your needs:

  1. LEN + SUBSTITUTE Formula – Best for single-cell word counts.
  2. ARRAYFORMULA – Automates word count across multiple rows.
  3. SUM + ARRAYFORMULA – Totals word count in a range.
  4. Google Apps Script – Ideal for advanced users needing accuracy.
  5. Google Docs Word Count – A quick alternative for large text blocks.

Each method has its advantages, so choose the one that fits your workflow best! 🚀

Would you like more advanced Google Sheets tips? Let me know in the comments! 🎯

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