📝 Word Counter
Count words, characters, sentences and reading time instantly.
Free online word counter
Paste or type your text and this word counter instantly shows the number of words, characters with and without spaces, sentences and estimated reading time. It updates as you type, so you can watch your count while you write or edit. It is useful for essays, articles, blog posts, emails, social media captions and any piece of writing with a length limit.
What the counter shows
- Words: groups of characters separated by spaces or line breaks.
- Characters: the total length of your text, including spaces.
- No spaces: the character count with all spaces and line breaks removed.
- Sentences: a count of sentences ending in a period, question mark or exclamation mark.
- Min to read: an estimate based on a reading speed of 200 words per minute.
When a word count matters
- School and university: essays and assignments usually come with a minimum or maximum word count.
- Blogging and SEO: there is no magic length, but checking your count helps you cover a topic fully without padding.
- Applications: cover letters, personal statements and scholarship essays often have strict limits.
- Publishing: articles, newsletters and guest posts are commonly commissioned by word count.
Tips for better writing length
- Write your first draft without worrying about the count, then trim or expand.
- Cut filler words such as "very", "really" and "in order to" to shorten text without losing meaning.
- If you are short of words, add examples, evidence or a clear conclusion instead of repeating yourself.
- Check the exact rules you were given, because some limits exclude headings, quotes or references.
Frequently asked questions
How does the tool decide what a word is?
Any run of characters separated by whitespace is one word. A hyphenated term such as well-known counts as one word, and numbers count as words too.
Is the sentence count exact?
It is an estimate. Abbreviations such as "Dr." or "e.g." and decimal numbers can be mistaken for the end of a sentence.
How is reading time calculated?
The tool divides your word count by 200 and rounds up. People read at different speeds, so treat the result as a rough guide.
Is my text saved or sent anywhere?
No. The counting happens in your browser, and your text is never uploaded.