How to use the Lorem Ipsum generator
- Choose a Mode: Paragraphs, Sentences or Words.
- Type a number in the box under it: Number of paragraphs (1 to 20), Number of sentences (1 to 100) or Number of words (1 to 5,000). The text updates as you type.
- Keep Start with "Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet..." ticked for the familiar opening line, and tick Wrap in <p> tags if you are pasting into HTML.
- Press Generate for a new random version, then Copy text.
How the text is built
The generator draws from a bank of 131 Latin and Latin-style words taken from the classic Lorem Ipsum passage and its common variants. Each sentence has 5 to 16 words, longer ones get a comma, and no word repeats twice in a row. A paragraph holds 4 to 8 sentences. The opening line is fixed text, not random: Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.
The standard passage is adapted from sections 1.10.32 and 1.10.33 of Cicero's De Finibus Bonorum et Malorum, written in 45 BC. The scrambled version became the dummy text of the design trade in the 1960s through Letraset transfer sheets and later desktop publishing software. The name comes from "dolorem ipsum", which means "pain itself".
Worked example
With the defaults (Paragraphs, 5, the classic opening ticked, p tags off) the page loads showing 5 paragraphs, and the line above the box reads "5 paragraphs, 359 words, 2,607 characters". The first paragraph begins with the fixed 19-word opening sentence, and every other sentence is random, so Generate gives different words with the same structure. Switch Mode to Words and type 50: the box then holds exactly 50 words ("1 paragraph, 50 words, 346 characters"), the first 19 being the classic sentence, followed by random sentences of 5 to 16 words.
Limits and edge cases
The text means nothing, so replace it before a page goes live. Words mode counts words separated by spaces, and the output is split into paragraphs of 4 to 8 sentences. Numbers outside the allowed range are limited to the nearest allowed value, and the tool tells you when that happens. Need realistic names, emails or addresses instead? Use the Fake Data Generator. For mockup images, try the Placeholder Image Generator, and to check the length of your text, open the Word Counter.
Frequently asked questions
What does Lorem Ipsum mean?
Nothing. The text is scrambled Latin that does not form real sentences. "Lorem" is not a Latin word, it is a clipped form of "dolorem", and the original phrase "dolorem ipsum" means "pain itself". Designers use it because it looks like text without distracting readers with meaning.
Where does Lorem Ipsum come from?
It is adapted from sections 1.10.32 and 1.10.33 of Cicero's De Finibus Bonorum et Malorum, written in 45 BC. The scrambled version spread in the 1960s on Letraset transfer sheets and later in desktop publishing software. Latin professor Richard McClintock traced the source in the 1980s.
How do I get an exact number of words?
Choose Words mode and type the number, up to 5,000. The output contains exactly that many words, counting anything separated by spaces, and the first 19 are the classic opening sentence when that option is ticked. Choose Sentences mode for an exact sentence count.
Should I leave Lorem Ipsum on a live website?
No. Placeholder text tells visitors and search engines nothing about your page, and it makes the site look unfinished. Use it in mockups and templates, then replace it with real copy before you publish.
Sources: Lorem ipsum (Wikipedia); Lipsum.com, the history of Lorem Ipsum.