Word Counter
Count words, characters, sentences, paragraphs and estimated reading time as you type.
Processing: This tool runs entirely in your browser. Your input and any file you open stay on your device — nothing is uploaded to a server.
Common next steps
Text Readability Checker →
Score text with six readability formulas and see which sentences are dragging it down.
Text Cleaner →
Strip extra spaces, blank lines, line breaks, smart quotes and unwanted characters.
Keyword Density Checker →
Count word and phrase frequency in a text, with density percentages.
How to use the word counter
- Paste or type your text into the box.
- Read the live counts above the box — they update as you type.
- Switch the reading speed if you need a slower or faster estimate.
About this tool
A word counter answers a question most writing tools answer badly: how long is this, really? Word processors count words but hide characters; social platforms count characters but ignore words; and neither tells you how long a reader will spend with the text. This tool shows all of those numbers at once and updates them on every keystroke.
Words are counted as runs of non-whitespace characters, which is the same rule word processors use. Characters are reported both with and without spaces, because the two limits appear in different places — SMS and meta descriptions usually count everything, while some style guides exclude spaces. Sentences are detected on terminal punctuation, and paragraphs on blank lines.
Common uses
- Checking an essay or assignment against a word limit.
- Trimming a meta description to fit inside a search snippet.
- Estimating how long a script will take to read aloud.
Frequently asked questions
- How is reading time calculated?
- Word count divided by a reading speed, 225 words per minute by default. That is a common average for adults reading prose on screen; technical material is usually slower.
- Does hyphenated text count as one word or two?
- One. Words are split on whitespace, so 'well-known' counts once, the same way most word processors count it.
- Is my text sent anywhere?
- No. The counting happens in JavaScript in this page. The text never leaves your browser and is not stored.
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