WRITING · COUNTER
Word Counter
Paste your essay, post or caption to see the word count as you type, with characters, sentences, paragraphs and an estimated reading time.
Count your text
Your text is counted in this browser only. It is never sent anywhere or saved.
Count
- Words
- 0
- Charactersincluding spaces
- 0
- Charactersexcluding spaces
- 0
- Sentences
- 0
- Paragraphs
- 0
- Reading timeat 238 words/min
- 0 min
Example
“Write the way you talk. Keep sentences short. Then read it out loud and cut what you do not need.” (two paragraphs)
- Words: 20
- Characters: 98 with spaces, 78 without
- Sentences: 3, paragraphs: 2
- Reading time: < 1 min
How to use the word counter
Type in the box or paste text from anywhere. The counts update as you go. Use Clear to start over. Line breaks count as characters with spaces, and a blank line starts a new paragraph.
Common word limits
Limits are set by whoever asks for the text, so always check their instructions. Count your text the same way they do: if a limit says “characters,” ask whether spaces are included, and remember that headings and footnotes may or may not count.
How reading time is estimated
Reading time divides the word count by 238 words per minute, the average silent reading speed for English non-fiction in Brysbaert’s 2019 review. Fiction is read a little faster (about 260 words per minute) and technical text slower.
Frequently asked questions
How are words counted?
A word is any run of characters between spaces or line breaks, so "well-known" is one word and "3.5" is one word. This matches how most word processors count.
How long does it take to read 1,000 words?
About 4 minutes. Adults read English non-fiction silently at about 238 words per minute on average, according to a 2019 review of 190 studies. Reading aloud is slower, about 183 words per minute, so 1,000 words take about 5 to 6 minutes to say.
Do spaces count as characters?
It depends on the limit you are writing for. Social media posts and most forms count spaces; some essay and translation limits do not. The counter shows both numbers.
Is my text stored anywhere?
No. The counting runs in your browser. The text is not sent to a server, saved in your browser or included in analytics.
More tools
Sources and last updated
- Reading speed: Brysbaert, M. (2019). How many words do we read per minute? A review and meta-analysis of reading rate. Journal of Memory and Language, 109, 104047.
- Characters are counted as you see them, so an emoji counts as one character.
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