Ideal Blog Post Length for SEO in 2024
Updated February 2026 · 9 min read
Quick Answer
The ideal blog post length for SEO is 1500-2500 words. The average page 1 Google result contains around 1900 words.
What the Data Says About Blog Post Length
Multiple studies have analyzed the relationship between content length and Google rankings. Here is what the data consistently shows.
Average word count of page 1 Google results
Optimal range for most competitive keywords
Long form content gets 3x more backlinks than short content
Recommended Word Counts by Content Type
News articles
Timely, concise, factual
Product pages
Enough to answer buyer questions
Standard blog posts
Good for low competition keywords
SEO focused blog posts
Ideal for most keywords
Pillar content / guides
For competitive head terms
Ultimate guides
For highest competition keywords
Why Longer Content Ranks Better
Longer content tends to rank better for several reasons that align with what Google values.
Covers topics more comprehensively
Google rewards content that fully answers a search query. Longer posts have more room to cover subtopics, answer follow up questions and provide more value.
Attracts more backlinks
Comprehensive guides and long form content naturally attract more backlinks from other websites because they serve as authoritative references.
Keeps readers on page longer
Longer posts increase time on page and reduce bounce rate, both of which are positive signals to Google that your content is engaging and valuable.
Targets more keywords naturally
A 2000 word article naturally includes more semantic keywords and related terms than a 500 word post, helping you rank for more search queries.
Performs better on social media
Long form content gets shared significantly more on social media than short posts, increasing your content reach and potential for backlinks.
Quality vs Quantity — What Really Matters
Length alone will not get you to page 1. Google has become very good at identifying thin or padded content that is long but not actually useful. Here is what truly matters for ranking.
Search intent match
Your content must match what the searcher is actually looking for. If someone searches for a quick answer, a 5000 word essay may hurt your rankings.
Expertise and accuracy
Google rewards content written by people who demonstrate expertise on a topic. Accurate, well researched content outperforms vague or inaccurate content.
User experience
Easy to read formatting, clear headings, bullet points and images keep readers engaged. A poorly formatted 3000 word post performs worse than a well formatted 1500 word post.
Freshness
Keeping content updated with current information signals to Google that your content is maintained and accurate. Update your top posts every 6-12 months.
How to Check Your Word Count
Use our free word counter to instantly check the word count of any blog post before publishing. You can paste your content and see your word count, reading time, readability score and more.
Check Your Word Count Free →Frequently Asked Questions
What is the ideal blog post length for SEO?
The ideal blog post length for SEO is 1500-2500 words for most topics. Competitive topics may require 3000+ words to rank on page 1 of Google.
Do longer blog posts rank better on Google?
Generally yes. Studies show that the average page 1 Google result contains around 1900 words. However length alone does not guarantee rankings — quality and relevance matter more.
Is 500 words enough for a blog post?
500 words is rarely enough to rank for competitive keywords. Short posts of 300-500 words can rank for very low competition keywords but most topics need at least 1000-1500 words.
How long should a blog post title be?
Blog post titles should be 50-60 characters long for best SEO results. This ensures the title is not cut off in Google search results.
How often should I publish blog posts?
Quality beats quantity. Publishing 1-2 high quality posts per week is better than publishing daily low quality content. Consistency matters more than frequency.