Word Counter

Count words, characters, and more

Paste any text and this tool counts the words, characters (with and without spaces), sentences, paragraphs, and lines in real time, plus an estimated reading time. It's handy for essays, social posts with character limits, SEO meta descriptions, and any writing with a length target. Everything runs in your browser — your text isn't uploaded.

Why character limits matter

• Twitter/X posts cap at 280 characters.
• SEO meta descriptions are usually cut off around 155–160 characters.
• SEO title tags display about 50–60 characters.
• Essays and applications often specify a word count.

FAQ

How is reading time estimated?

At an average reading speed of about 200 words per minute. Actual time varies with difficulty and the reader, so treat it as a rough guide.

How does it count characters with and without spaces?

It reports both figures because different platforms count differently. Twitter/X includes spaces in its 280-character limit, while some other fields count only visible characters, so check which one your target uses.

How does it decide what counts as a word?

Words are counted as runs of characters separated by spaces or line breaks, which matches how most essay and application word limits work. Hyphenated terms typically count as one word, and numbers count as words too.

Does it update as I type?

Yes. Every count, including words, characters, sentences, paragraphs, lines, and reading time, recalculates in real time as you type or paste, so you can watch a draft approach a limit live.

Is it free, and is my text private?

Yes, it is completely free with no sign-up. All counting runs in your browser, so your text is never uploaded to a server, and it works on phones, tablets, and desktops.