Word Counter and Character Counter
Our word counter shows words, characters, sentences and paragraphs the moment you paste or type text. It also works as a character counter with and without spaces, plus reading time and your most used words. Nothing you type leaves your browser.
What the Word Counter Measures
The tool tracks eight numbers at once. Words are any group of characters separated by a space or a line break. Characters include every letter, digit, space and punctuation mark. The second character figure drops the spaces, which some forms and platforms ask for.
Sentences are counted at each period, question mark or exclamation point. Paragraphs are blocks of text separated by an empty line. The word counter also shows the average word length and the five words you use most.
How to Use It
- Paste your text into the box or start typing.
- Watch the counts update with every key you press.
- Check the top words list for terms you repeat.
- Press Clear text to start again.
You can count words in an essay, a post or a whole chapter without pressing a button. The counts change in real time, which helps when you are trimming a draft to a limit. Edit one sentence and the new total appears at once.
Words vs Characters
A word count and a character count answer different questions. Schools and publishers usually set word limits, while social platforms and search engines limit characters. A character counter matters more whenever the space on screen is fixed.
Spaces count as characters on most platforms, including X and text messages. That is why the character counter shows both versions side by side. If a form asks for characters without spaces, use the second figure.
How Words Are Counted
The tool splits your text wherever it finds spaces, tabs or line breaks. Numbers such as 2026 count as words, and so do single letters like "a" or "I". Words joined by a hyphen count as one word, which matches how Microsoft Word counts them.
Different tools can still disagree by a few words. Some count a lone dash or a bullet symbol as a word, and others skip it. A gap of one or two percent is normal and rarely matters for a limit.
Reading and Speaking Time
Reading time uses 238 words per minute, the average adult silent reading speed found in a 2019 review of 190 studies. Speaking time uses 150 words per minute, a comfortable pace for talks and presentations. A 1,000 word article takes about 4 minutes 12 seconds to read and 6 minutes 40 seconds to say aloud.
That makes the tool a handy reading time calculator for blog posts and speeches. Bloggers often show the figure at the top of a post. Speakers use it to check that a script fits a time slot.
A Worked Example
Paste the sentence "The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog." into the box. The word counter shows 9 words, 44 characters and 36 characters without spaces. It also counts 1 sentence and 1 paragraph, with an average word length of 3.9 letters.
The top words list shows brown, dog, fox, jumps and lazy at 11.1 percent each. The word "the" appears twice but is left out as a common word. Reading time comes to 2 seconds.
Common Length Limits
Most limits you meet online are set in characters, while essays use words. The table lists common ones to check in the character counter. Platforms change their rules now and then, so confirm anything critical before you post.
| Where | Limit |
| X post (standard account) | 280 characters |
| Text message (SMS) | 160 characters |
| Instagram caption | 2,200 characters |
| LinkedIn post | 3,000 characters |
| Search result title | about 60 characters shown |
| Meta description | about 155 to 160 characters shown |
| Common App personal essay | 650 words |
Word Count for Essays and Assignments
Teachers set word limits to test how well you can make a point in a fixed space. Many accept a small margin either side, but always check the rules for your course. As a rough guide, one double spaced page in a 12 point font holds about 250 to 300 words.
Use the word count calculator while you edit rather than at the very end. Cutting 100 words is easier across several small edits than in one late rush. Check the top words list too, since repeated words are the easiest ones to cut.
Letters, Words and SEO
Writers for the web use a character counter for a different reason. Search results show roughly 60 characters of a title and about 155 to 160 characters of a description. A letter counter helps you land inside those limits so your text is not cut off. Google trims by pixel width, so treat these numbers as guides.
Tips for Hitting a Word Limit
- Cut filler words such as "very", "really" and "just".
- Swap long phrases for one word, like "because" for "due to the fact that".
- Remove sentences that repeat an earlier point.
- Read the text aloud to spot slow parts.
Why Use Our Word Counter
Our word counter gives words, characters, sentences, paragraphs, reading time and top words in one place. It runs fully in your browser, so private text stays on your device. It doubles as a character counter, with no sign up and no limit on length. Paste your text above and see your counts now.
Frequently asked questions
Is this word counter free?
Yes, it is free with no sign up and no text limit.
Does the character counter include spaces?
It shows both, one count with spaces and one without.
How do I count words in a PDF?
Copy the text from the PDF and paste it into the box.
How does the reading time calculator work?
It divides your word count by 238 words per minute.
Can I use it as a letter counter?
Yes, the character count without spaces is close, though it includes punctuation too.
How many words is a 5 minute speech?
About 750 words at 150 words per minute.
Does the tool store my text?
No, the text never leaves your browser.
Does the word count calculator match Microsoft Word?
It follows the same rule for spaces and hyphens, so totals are usually identical or very close.
Related calculators
Other tools people use alongside the word counter.