Free Word Counter — Paste Your Text Below
0
Words
0
Characters
0
Sentences
0
Min Read
💡 Quick answer: The ideal press release is 400-600 words — roughly one page. Never exceed 800 words. Journalists make coverage decisions in seconds; a concise press release is dramatically more likely to get covered.
Press release structure and word count by section
| Section | Word Count | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Headline | 10-15 words | The news hook — make it count |
| Lead paragraph | 50-75 words | Who, what, when, where, why in one paragraph |
| Body (2-3 paragraphs) | 200-300 words | Supporting details, context, quotes |
| Quote from spokesperson | 30-50 words | One strong quote maximum |
| Boilerplate (About Us) | 75-100 words | Standard company description |
| Total | 400-600 words | One page ideal |
Why press releases need to be short
Journalists at major outlets receive 200-500 press releases per day. They spend an average of 5-10 seconds deciding whether to read further or delete. A press release that leads with background information rather than the actual news is almost always deleted immediately.
Can a press release be under 300 words? ▼
Yes — a very short press release (200-300 words) is acceptable for minor announcements. For major product launches or funding announcements, 400-600 words gives you space to tell the complete story.
What reading grade should a press release be written at? ▼
Grade 8-10 is appropriate for most press releases. Clear, direct sentences. No jargon unless essential to the announcement.
Check your press release word count, reading grade, and sentence count free with UltraWordCounter — no account needed.
Try UltraWordCounter Free →