Lorem Ipsum Generator

What a lorem ipsum generator is for

A lorem ipsum generator gives you placeholder text that behaves like real copy, so you can judge a layout before the words exist. Designers use it to test line length, rag and spacing; developers use it to fill templates, CMS fields and test databases; and agencies use it to show a client the shape of a page without the conversation turning into a copy edit.

The text itself is scrambled Latin from Cicero's De finibus bonorum et malorum, written in 45 BC. The popular story credits an unknown printer in the 1500s, but the earliest confirmed uses are Letraset dry-transfer sheets from the 1960s. Desktop publishing software such as Aldus PageMaker then put it in front of every designer, and it has shipped with design tools ever since.

How to use the generator

1. Choose how much: a number of paragraphs, sentences, words or list items.
2. Pick a style. Classic Latin for neutral filler, Plain English for readable copy about a fictional coffee roaster, or Headlines for short, punchy titles to test heading sizes and card grids.
3. Pick an output. Plain text for design tools, HTML to paste straight into a template, Markdown for docs, static site generators and READMEs.
4. Press Generate again for a fresh variation, then copy or download it.

Your settings are saved in the page address, so a bookmarked link opens with the same options next time.

Latin or English placeholder text?

Latin is the safe default because nobody tries to read it. That matters in early reviews, where a single readable sentence can derail a meeting about spacing into a debate about wording. English filler is better later, when you need realistic word lengths, when you are testing hyphenation or translation expansion, or when the reviewer is not a designer and Latin just looks broken to them. Headline style is useful for components that only ever hold a few words: hero titles, card headings, buttons and navigation.

Practical tips

• Match the real length. If product descriptions will be 30 words, test with 30 words, not three paragraphs. Paste real drafts into the word counter to get target lengths.
• Test the extremes. Try one word and the longest plausible headline. Layouts break at the edges, not in the middle.
• Use the built-in shortcuts when you are already in an editor:

<!-- VS Code and other editors with Emmet: type, then press Tab -->
lorem          ->  one paragraph, about 30 words
lorem8         ->  exactly 8 words
ul>li*4>lorem4 ->  a list of 4 items, 4 words each

Microsoft Word: type =lorem(3,5) and press Enter
                (3 paragraphs of 5 sentences)

Writing documentation rather than layouts? Generate Markdown here and preview it in the Markdown to HTML converter.

Common mistakes

• Launching with lorem ipsum still on the page. It happens more than anyone admits, usually in a footer column, a 404 page, an image alt attribute or a meta description nobody checked. Search the whole site for "lorem" before go-live; it is one of the items on our website launch checklist.
• Designing around perfect text. Real headlines are uneven. Real names are long. Leave room.
• Using it in usability tests. People cannot judge whether a page makes sense if they cannot read it. Use real or realistic English.
• Forgetting accessibility. Screen readers try to pronounce Latin with English rules. Keep placeholder text out of anything you hand to an accessibility audit.

Frequently asked questions