The honest answer: there is no magic word count. Google doesn't have a "minimum length" requirement. But data from millions of ranking pages shows a clear pattern: longer, comprehensive content tends to rank better — if it's actually useful.
What the Data Shows
The average page 1 result on Google is about 1,500 words. But that's correlation, not causation. Long content ranks better because it tends to cover topics more thoroughly — not because Google counts words.
The Right Length by Content Type
- How-to guides: 1,200-2,000 words — enough to be comprehensive
- List posts: 800-1,500 words — scannable, actionable
- Comparison posts: 1,000-1,800 words — fair coverage of both sides
- News/updates: 300-600 words — timely, not padded
The Real Rule: Cover the Topic, Then Stop
Don't pad articles to hit a word count. Readers hate fluff. Google rewards pages that satisfy search intent. If that takes 600 words, great. If it takes 2,000, great. Use an AI blog writer that writes naturally — not one that stuffs keywords to hit a target length.