Word count
The number of words in your text, split on spaces and line breaks. This is the count most assignments, articles, and social posts are measured by, so it sits front and center.
Word Counter
Count words and characters as you type, with live totals for sentences, paragraphs, lines, and reading time. Everything runs in your browser, so your text stays on your device.
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Characters
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Characters (no spaces)
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Sentences
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Paragraphs
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Reading time
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Speaking time
About counting words
What is a word counter?
A word counter tallies the words and characters in a piece of text so you can hit a target length without counting by hand. Writers can use it to stay inside an essay limit, marketers can use it to keep meta descriptions and ad copy under their caps, and students use it to meet assignment requirements. This one goes further than a simple total. It also breaks your text down into sentences, paragraphs, and lines, and estimates how long the passage takes to read or say out loud, all updating live as you type.
Why use our word counter
- ·Free. No signup, no paywall, no limits.
- ·Real time. Counts update the instant you type or paste.
- ·Runs in your browser. Nothing gets uploaded, your text stays with you.
- ·More than a total. Sentences, paragraphs, reading time, and speaking time too.
- ·No limit. Paste a tweet or a whole manuscript, it keeps up.
What the word counter measures
Character count
Every character including spaces, punctuation, and emoji. Good for tweets, meta descriptions, SMS messages, and any field with a strict character limit.
Characters without spaces
The same count with spaces stripped out. Some journals, forms, and academic guidelines measure length this way, so both figures are always visible.
Sentences and paragraphs
Sentences are counted by their ending punctuation, and paragraphs by the blank lines between blocks. Useful for checking structure and pacing in longer writing.
Reading time
An estimate of how long the text takes to read silently, based on an average pace of 225 words per minute. A quick way to gauge whether a post fits its slot.
Speaking time
How long the text takes to read aloud at a natural pace of around 130 words per minute. Built for speeches, presentations, scripts, and voiceovers.
How many pages is 1,000 words?
It depends on the font and spacing, but most schools and publishers assume a 12 point font like Times New Roman or Arial with 1 inch margins. At that setting a single spaced page holds about 500 words and a double spaced page about 250. Reading and speaking times below use the same pace as the counter above (225 and 130 words per minute).
| Words | Single spaced | Double spaced | Reading time | Speaking time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 250 | Half a page | 1 page | About 1 min | About 2 min |
| 500 | 1 page | 2 pages | About 2 min | About 4 min |
| 750 | 1.5 pages | 3 pages | About 3 min | About 6 min |
| 1,000 | 2 pages | 4 pages | About 4.5 min | About 8 min |
| 1,500 | 3 pages | 6 pages | About 7 min | About 11.5 min |
| 2,000 | 4 pages | 8 pages | About 9 min | About 15 min |
| 3,000 | 6 pages | 12 pages | About 13 min | About 23 min |
| 5,000 | 10 pages | 20 pages | About 22 min | About 38.5 min |
Headings, short paragraphs, and dialogue use more space, so treat these as rough figures. If a teacher gives you a page count, ask for a word count instead. It is the more reliable measure.
Common word and character limits
These are the limits people check most often. Platforms change their rules from time to time, so confirm on the site itself if you are close to the limit.
| Where | Limit |
|---|---|
| X (Twitter) post | 280 characters on a standard account |
| Bluesky post | 300 characters |
| Instagram caption | 2,200 characters |
| LinkedIn post | 3,000 characters |
| YouTube video title | 100 characters |
| Text message (SMS) | 160 characters per message, or 70 if it contains emoji |
| Google search title | About 60 characters before it gets cut off |
| Google meta description | About 155 to 160 characters before it gets cut off |
| Common App personal essay | 650 words |
| UCAS personal statement | 4,000 characters, including spaces |
Why word counts differ between apps
This counter treats anything between two spaces or line breaks as one word. That means a hyphenated word like well-known counts once,don't counts once, a number counts as a word, and a link counts as a single word however long it is. A dash with a space on each side is also counted as a word.
Microsoft Word and Google Docs follow similar rules, but they handle a few cases differently, and they may leave out footnotes, headers, or text boxes. A difference of a few words between tools is normal. When a limit is strict, check the count in the tool your teacher or editor will use.
For characters, most emoji count as 2 here, because they take up two units of text in the browser. X counts most emoji as 2 characters too.
Who uses a word counter
Almost anyone who writes to a length benefits from a live count. Here are the most common reasons people use one:
- ·Students and academics. Essays, dissertations, and abstracts almost always come with a strict word or character limit that has to be met exactly.
- ·SEO writers and marketers. Title tags, meta descriptions, and ad copy all live inside tight character budgets, so a running count keeps them in range.
- ·Social media managers. Posts on platforms like X and Bluesky enforce character caps, and knowing the count before you post avoids awkward edits.
- ·Speakers and presenters. Speaking time turns a script into a realistic runtime, so a talk fits its slot before you ever rehearse it.
- ·Authors and bloggers. Tracking word count keeps chapters, articles, and newsletters consistent and helps build a steady writing habit.
Frequently asked questions
- How do I count words in my text?
- Type or paste your text into the box above. The word count updates instantly as you write, along with characters, sentences, paragraphs, and estimated reading time. There is no button to press and nothing to submit.
- Does the word counter work in real time?
- Yes. Every count refreshes the moment you type, paste, or delete text. You can watch the numbers change live, which makes it easy to hit a target length without guessing.
- How are words counted?
- Words are separated by spaces and line breaks, so any run of characters between them counts as one word. This matches how most word processors and content platforms tally length, so the number lines up with what you see elsewhere.
- What is the difference between characters with and without spaces?
- Character count with spaces includes every space, tab, and line break in the text. Character count without spaces removes them and leaves only the visible characters. Some limits, like tweets or meta tags, count spaces, while certain academic and print guidelines do not, so both are shown.
- How is reading time estimated?
- Reading time assumes an average silent reading speed of about 225 words per minute, and speaking time assumes roughly 130 words per minute. These are averages, so treat them as a close guide rather than an exact measurement. Your real pace will vary with the difficulty of the text.
- Is there a word limit?
- No. You can paste an entire article, essay, or manuscript and the counter keeps up. Because everything runs on your own device, there is no upload cap and no server to slow things down.
- Is the word counter free?
- Yes, it is completely free with no signup, no limits, and no watermarks. Use it as often as you like.
- Is my text safe and private?
- Your text never leaves your browser. All counting happens locally on your device, so nothing is uploaded to a server. Once the page has loaded you can even use it offline.