How to Find Word Count in InDesign

To find the word count in Adobe InDesign, open the Info panel with Window > Info (or press F8), then click inside a text frame with the Type tool. The panel shows the number of characters, words, lines and paragraphs in that whole story, including text that flows through linked frames. To count just part of the text, highlight it, and the panel counts only the selection. InDesign has no single button to count every story in a document, but you can export the text and count it in Word, or use a script. Here’s how each method works.

Method 1: The Info panel (one story)

1. Go to Window > Info, or press F8.
2. Choose the Type tool (T) and click anywhere inside the text frame. Don’t select any text.
3. Read the counts in the Info panel: Characters, Words, Lines and Paragraphs.

A “story” is all the text in a chain of linked frames, so if an article flows across several pages, you get the total for the whole article.

Overset text

If the story has overset text (text that doesn’t fit, shown by a red + in the frame’s out port), the Info panel shows an extra figure after a plus sign, for example Words: 850 +120. The second number is the hidden overset words, which still count toward the story’s length.

Method 2: Count a selection

1. With the Type tool, highlight the text you want to count, such as a paragraph or a caption.
2. The Info panel now shows counts for the selection only.

Press Ctrl + A (Mac: Cmd + A) while the cursor is in a story to select the whole story, including overset text.

Method 3: Story Editor

Click in a text frame and press Ctrl + Y (Mac: Cmd + Y) to open the Story Editor. It shows the whole story as plain text, including overset text, with a ruler marking where the frame ends. Keep the Info panel open to see the counts while you edit. This is handy for trimming copy to fit a layout.

Method 4: Count the whole document

InDesign counts one story at a time. To count everything:

Export and count in Word

1. Click in a story and choose File > Export.
2. Choose Rich Text Format or Text Only and save the file.
3. Repeat for each story, or copy and paste all the stories into one Word document.
4. Open the file in Word and check the word count in the status bar. See how to display word count in Word.

Use a script

InDesign supports scripts (Window > Utilities > Scripts). Word-count scripts shared in Adobe’s community forums can total every story in a document. Only install scripts from sources you trust, and test them on a copy of your file.

What the counts include

• Included: body text in linked frames, and overset text (shown after the + sign).
• Counted separately: unlinked frames such as captions, pull quotes and sidebars, which are separate stories. Click in each one to count it.
• Words: InDesign counts words separated by spaces, so hyphenated words count as one, and numbers count as words.

Expect small differences from Word’s count, especially with dashes, special characters and tables.

Fitting copy to a layout

Editors often give writers a target word count based on the layout. To estimate how many words fit:

1. Fill a frame with placeholder text (Type > Fill with Placeholder Text).
2. Click in it and read the word count in the Info panel.
3. Give that number to the writer as the target.

Troubleshooting

The Info panel doesn’t show a word count

You’re using the Selection tool, or no text is active. Switch to the Type tool and click inside a frame.

The count seems too low

Check for unlinked frames, and for text in tables or anchored objects, which may be separate stories.

Related guides

• How to set up APA format in Word
• How to type on a PDF in Windows 10

Summary

1. Open Window > Info (F8).
2. Click in a text frame with the Type tool to count the whole story, or select text to count part of it.
3. Read overset words after the + sign.
4. For the whole document, export the text and count it in Word, or use a script.

Related: How to Reduce Word Count.

Matt Jacobs

Matt Jacobs has been working as an IT consultant for small businesses since receiving his Master’s degree in 2003. While he still does some consulting work, his primary focus now is on creating technology support content for SupportYourTech.com.

His work can be found on many websites and focuses on topics such as Microsoft Office, Apple devices, Android devices, Photoshop, and more.