Essay Word Count Checker
Paste your essay — instantly see word count and how it compares to typical requirements.
Writing to a specific length? Try the 250, 500, 1,000, 1,500, 2,000, 3,000 or 5,000-word essay checkers, or read how long is an essay?
Common university essay word limits
| Assignment Type | Typical Range |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate essay | 1,500–3,000 words |
| Postgraduate essay | 3,000–6,000 words |
| Undergraduate dissertation | 8,000–12,000 words |
| Masters dissertation | 15,000–20,000 words |
| PhD thesis | 70,000–100,000 words |
Important: many universities allow a margin (often 10%) over or under the stated word count, but not all do. Check your institution's specific rules — some count footnotes, references, or captions; others don't.
Does word count include references?
This varies by institution and module. Many universities exclude the reference list and bibliography from the word count but include in-text citations (e.g. Harvard-style author-date references). Check your assignment brief carefully.
Frequently asked questions
It depends on your institution. Many universities exclude footnotes from the word count if they are used for references only. Substantive arguments placed in footnotes usually do count. When in doubt, ask your lecturer.
Many universities allow a margin — often 10% — before applying a penalty, but others treat the limit as strict or stop marking at it. Always check your assignment brief.
Usually yes, within 1–3 words for typical essays. Very minor differences can occur with hyphenated words, special characters, or formatting markup if pasted from Word. For final submission, use your word processor's count as the official figure.