Word and character counter online
Count the words, characters, sentences and paragraphs of any text instantly. Free, no sign-up, and the tool does not send your text to any server.
- Words
- 0
- Characters
- 0
- Characters without spaces
- 0
- Sentences
- 0
- Paragraphs
- 0
- Minutes to read
- 0
A paper tape printed with five words runs under a feeler mounted on a bridge. In front, a box with two windows: the large one shows the words counted and the small one the characters. Enter, Space or the arrow keys move from one step to the next.
How to use it
- Type or paste your text into the box.
- Check the count, which updates as you type.
- Adjust the text until it reaches the length you need.
Frequently asked questions
How are words counted?
A word is each group of characters separated by spaces, tabs or line breaks. Numbers and hyphenated words count as a single word.
Do spaces count as characters?
You will see both counts: characters with spaces and characters without spaces. Social media and form limits usually count the spaces.
How is reading time calculated?
It is estimated at an average speed of 200 words per minute, rounded up to the next full minute.
Is my text stored anywhere?
No. The count is done in your browser: the text is not sent to any server and is not stored.
Why count words and characters
Almost everything we write has a limit: an essay with a minimum word count, a cover letter that must fit on one page, the abstract of a paper, an ad or a social media post. Counting by hand is impractical and a word processor is not always at hand; here you paste the text and see the count straight away.
Words measure the length of a text that is going to be read; characters, the room it takes up in a form or on a screen. That is why limits for social media, text messages and form fields are given in characters, and those for essays, articles and translations, in words.
| Where | Limit or recommended length |
|---|---|
| A post on X (Twitter) | 280 characters |
| SMS | 160 characters |
| Page title for Google | About 60 characters |
| Page description for Google | About 155 characters |
| One page, single-spaced, 12-point font | Around 500 words |
| Five minutes of public speaking | Between 650 and 750 words |
Reading time and text density
Reading time is calculated at 200 words per minute, the average speed of an adult reading silently. Read aloud, the pace drops to about 130 to 150 words per minute: if you are preparing a talk or a video, expect it to take quite a bit longer than the count suggests.
The number of sentences and paragraphs helps you see whether the text has room to breathe. Sentences averaging more than 25 or 30 words, and very long paragraphs, tend to tire the reader; splitting them improves readability without touching the content.
