Word Counter
Type or paste your text and see the counts update live. Nothing is uploaded or saved.
Characters: 0Words: 0Lines: 0
- Words
- 0
- Characters
- 0
- Characters (no spaces)
- 0
- Lines
- 0
- Non-empty lines
- 0
- Sentences
- 0
- Paragraphs
- 0
- Reading time (min)
- 0
How the word counter works
A word is any group of characters separated by spaces or line breaks, so a hyphenated word like "well-known" counts as one. The panel also shows characters with and without spaces, lines, sentences and paragraphs, and updates as you type.
Reading time assumes about 200 words per minute, which is a typical silent reading speed for adults. Reading aloud is slower, around 130 words per minute.
Common length targets
- Search result title: about 60 characters.
- Meta description: about 155 to 160 characters.
- Post on X (Twitter): 280 characters.
- A single SMS: 160 characters using the standard alphabet.
- A typical blog post: 800 to 2,000 words.
Why writers count words
Essays, articles, job applications and subtitles often come with a strict word limit. Pasting your draft here is a quick check before you submit, and nothing you paste leaves your browser.
How to use the Word Counter tool
- Type or paste your text into the box.
- Read the word, character, sentence and paragraph counts below it.
- Edit the text and the numbers update straight away.
Frequently asked questions
How are words counted?
A word is any group of characters separated by spaces or line breaks.
How is reading time worked out?
Reading time assumes an average adult reads about 200 words per minute and is rounded up to the next minute.
Do spaces count as characters?
The Characters number includes spaces. Characters (no spaces) leaves them out.