Word Counter
Count words, characters, sentences and paragraphs as you type — plus reading time and social-media character limits. Nothing you write leaves your browser.
Start typing or paste your text — the counts update live.
About this tool
A word counter sounds simple, but the details matter when a limit is real: an essay that must be 1,500 words, a product description capped by a marketplace, a post that has to fit a platform. This counter updates on every keystroke and counts the way editors do — words are separated by spaces and punctuation, and hyphenated words count as one.
Under the counts you will find reading and speaking time (estimated at 200 and 130 words per minute) and live limit bars for X, Threads and Instagram captions, so you can trim before you post instead of after. Links and email addresses count as one word each, as do grouped numbers (1,000) and times (12:30); Japanese and Chinese text is segmented into words where your browser supports it. Because the tool runs entirely in your browser, drafts, essays and unpublished work are never uploaded anywhere.
How to use it
- Type or paste your text into the box.
- Read the live counts under the box — words, characters, sentences and paragraphs.
- Watch the platform bars if you are writing a post, and trim until the bar stays green.
Frequently asked questions
How does the word counter count words?
Any run of letters or numbers separated by spaces or punctuation counts as one word, and hyphenated words like “well-known” count as one — the same convention used by most editors and word processors. A web link or email address counts as one word, and so do numbers with thousand separators (1,000) and clock times (12:30).
Is my text uploaded or stored?
No. The counting happens in JavaScript inside your browser. Your text never leaves your device, and closing the tab erases it.
How are reading and speaking times calculated?
Reading time uses an average adult reading speed of 200 words per minute; speaking time uses 130 words per minute, a typical presentation pace. Real speeds vary, so treat them as planning estimates.
Does it count characters with or without spaces?
Both — the counter shows total characters and characters excluding spaces side by side, because different platforms and forms use different rules.