Open the word count tool from the menu

Overleaf shows your word count in the left sidebar, in a section called "Logs and output files". You do not need to read anything or use a separate tool — the count is built in. To see it, click the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the top left corner of your document, then look for "Word count" in the dropdown menu that appears.

When you click "Word count", Overleaf runs a count and displays the result in a popup window. The window shows the total number of words in your document, plus a breakdown by section if your document uses \section commands. This breakdown is useful if you are writing a paper with multiple chapters or parts and need to know how long each one is.

Key Takeaways

  • Word count is built into Overleaf and appears in the menu under "Word count" — you do not need to install anything.
  • The count includes the text in your document but excludes LaTeX commands, citations, and reference lists by default.
  • If you need a different count (for example, including citations), you can run the count again with different settings or copy your text into a separate word processor.
  • The word count updates each time you run it, so if you add or delete text and want the new total, you must click "Word count" again.

What the word count includes and excludes

Overleaf's word count tool counts the actual words in your document — the text that will appear on the page when you compile it. It does not count LaTeX commands like \textbf{} or \section{}, because those are instructions to the typesetting engine, not words you wrote.

By default, the tool also excludes citations and the reference list. If you are writing an academic paper and your citation style is important to your word count (for example, if your assignment counts citations toward the total), you will need to count those separately. The easiest way is to copy your compiled PDF text into a word processor like Google Docs or Microsoft Word, which will count everything including citations.

Reading the breakdown by section

If your document uses \section, \subsection, or \chapter commands, Overleaf's word count window shows a list of each section with its own word count. This is helpful if you are writing a thesis or long paper where different chapters have different length requirements.

The breakdown appears as a tree — main sections at the top, subsections indented below them. You can click on any section name to jump to that part of your document. If a section shows zero words, it usually means that section contains only headings or LaTeX commands with no actual text.

Why your word count might seem wrong

The most common reason a word count seems off is that Overleaf counts words differently than Microsoft Word or Google Docs. Overleaf counts hyphenated words (like "well-known") as one word, while some other tools count them as two. Overleaf also does not count numbers or standalone punctuation as words.

If you are submitting work to an instructor or publication and they specified a word count, ask them which tool they used to count, or provide your count alongside the document. Most instructors accept Overleaf's count without question, but if there is a discrepancy, you can always recount in the tool they prefer.

Counting words in a specific section only

Overleaf does not have a built-in way to count words in just one paragraph or sentence. If you need that level of detail, select the text you want to count, copy it, and paste it into Google Docs or another word processor. Google Docs shows a live word count as you type and can count selected text.

Alternatively, if you want to count only one section of your LaTeX document, you can temporarily comment out the other sections by adding a % symbol at the start of each line you want to hide, then run the word count again. This is slower but works if you need Overleaf's specific counting rules.

Using word count to track your progress

Many writers check word count regularly to see how much they have written and how much is left. If you have a target (for example, a 5,000-word essay), you can check your count every few hundred words to stay on track. Overleaf makes this straightforward because the word count tool is always one click away.

Keep in mind that word count is not the same as progress. A 2,000-word draft that is poorly organized is not halfway done if the final paper should be 5,000 words of polished work. Use word count as one measure among others — alongside outline completion, research done, and sections drafted.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Overleaf count words in footnotes and endnotes?

Yes, Overleaf counts text in footnotes and endnotes as part of the total word count. If your assignment says footnotes do not count toward the limit, you will need to count manually or use a different tool that lets you exclude them.

Can I see word count while I am typing, without opening the menu?

No, Overleaf does not show a live word count in the editor. You must click the menu and select "Word count" each time you want to see the total. Some users keep the word count window open in a second browser tab and refresh it as they work.

What if my document has multiple files — does word count include all of them?

Yes, if you use \input{} or \include{} to bring other files into your main document, Overleaf counts the text in those files too. The word count reflects what will appear in your compiled PDF, regardless of how many separate files you used to create it.

Does word count change if I change the font or spacing?

No, word count is based on the number of words, not how they look on the page. Changing font size, line spacing, or margins does not change the word count — only adding or removing actual text does.