Word Counter
Count words and characters instantly as you type or paste — plus sentences, paragraphs and reading time.
🔒 Private: runs in your browser, no upload
0Words
0Characters
0Characters (no spaces)
0Sentences
0Paragraphs
0Lines
0Reading time
0Speaking time
How to count words
- Type or paste your text into the box.
- Counts update instantly as you write.
- Use the reading and speaking time to plan essays, posts and speeches.
Character limits worth knowing
| Where | Limit |
|---|---|
| X (Twitter) post, free account | 280 characters |
| Google title tag (typically shown) | about 50–60 characters |
| Meta description (typically shown) | about 150–160 characters |
| SMS (GSM-7, one segment) | 160 characters |
Reading time assumes 238 words per minute (the average silent reading speed for non-fiction found in Brysbaert's 2019 meta-analysis); speaking time assumes 140 words per minute.
Frequently asked questions
How are words counted?
A word is any run of letters or digits; hyphenated words and contractions (e.g. well-known, don't) count as one. Punctuation and emojis are not counted as words.
Do spaces count as characters?
The tool shows both: total characters including spaces, and characters without spaces.
Is my text saved or sent anywhere?
No. Counting happens in your browser; nothing is stored or uploaded.
How is reading time calculated?
Words divided by 238 words per minute, the average adult silent reading rate for non-fiction reported by Brysbaert (2019).