What Is Average Word Length?

Average word length is the mean number of letters in the words of your text. It is calculated by dividing the total number of letters by the total number of words. Thanks to this metric, you can get an idea of the complexity and readability of your writing.

For example, if your text has 500 letters across 100 words, your average word length would be 5.00 letters per word.

What is the average word length for the English language?

The average English word is 4.79 letters long, based on analysis of billions of words¹. However, this might vary based on the language, text type, audience that the text targets, and similar.

How to Use the Average Word Length Calculator

1. Paste or type your text into the input box
2. View the average word length instantly as the calculator updates automatically as you type or edit your text.

You can also see the word count, character count, and the total count of short, medium, and long words.

How the calculation works

Our calculator only counts letters (not punctuation or spaces). Then it calculates the precise average to two decimal places.

Why Average Word Length Matters

Average word length is one of the important metrics for assessing the readability of your text. Shorter word length average (3-4 letters) means that the text is easier to read, and it is suitable for general audiences. Medium length average (4-5 letters) is the OK complexity, and it is typical for most English writing. Lastly, longer words (5+ letters) means probably more complex or technical writing.