Average Word Length Calculator

Calculate mean, median, shortest and longest word length — a quick gauge of lexical complexity. Free, private and online, with nothing uploaded.

About this tool

Measure How Complex Your Vocabulary Is

Mean and median word length plus the shortest and longest words give a quick sense of how technical or plain a text reads.

How to use it

  1. Paste your text.
  2. Read mean, median, minimum and maximum.
  3. Compare drafts to simplify wording.

Frequently asked questions

Why show the median as well as the mean?

A few very long words pull the mean up; the median shows the typical word length unaffected by outliers.

Is my text uploaded anywhere?

No. The tool runs in your browser and the text never leaves your device, so you can paste confidential drafts, contracts or customer data.