Word Counter

Count words, characters, sentences, paragraphs and estimate reading time instantly

0 Words
0 Characters
0 No Spaces
0 Sentences
0 Paragraphs
0 min Read Time

About the Word Counter Tool

This free word counter instantly counts words, characters, sentences, paragraphs and estimated reading time as you type or paste text. Everything updates live in your browser — no button to press, no upload, nothing stored on any server.

Word counts matter more than people expect. Students face strict essay and assignment limits. Content writers and bloggers target 1,500–2,500 words for SEO articles. Social media managers work against hard caps — 280 characters on X, 2,200 on Instagram. Job seekers keep cover letters between 250 and 400 words. Authors track daily writing goals, and translators and freelancers bill per word.

Reading time is calculated at roughly 200–250 words per minute, the average adult silent reading speed. This is the number bloggers put at the top of articles ("5 min read") and what presenters use to time a speech — a 10-minute talk needs about 1,300–1,500 spoken words.

Frequently Asked Questions

Words are counted by splitting text at spaces and line breaks, so hyphenated words like “state-of-the-art” count as one word, matching how Microsoft Word and Google Docs count.
Yes — both figures are shown. Character limits on social platforms and forms usually include spaces, so check which one your form requires.
No. All counting happens inside your browser using JavaScript. Your text never leaves your device and nothing is stored.
At approximately 200–250 words per minute, the average adult reading speed. Technical content reads slower, light content faster.