Word Counter
Count words, characters and reading time
How to Use Word Counter
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Type or paste your text into the input area.
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The tool instantly shows word count, character count, sentence count, and estimated reading time.
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Use the results for writing targets, academic submissions, or SEO planning.
About Word Counter
Count words, characters, sentences, paragraphs and reading time. Keyword density analysis included. Free.
Best Use Cases
- •Checking word count before submitting an academic essay with a strict limit
- •Tracking article length during writing to hit an SEO target word count
- •Counting characters for a tweet, bio, or meta description
- •Estimating reading time for a blog post or newsletter
- •Checking sentence count and average sentence length to assess readability
Examples
Academic submission
A 2,500 word essay limit means you paste your draft and check the exact count before submitting. The tool also shows character count with and without spaces.
SEO content
A target of 1,500 words for a blog post. You write in sections and paste each section to track progress toward the target.
Social media
Twitter has a 280-character limit. You paste your tweet draft and the character count tells you instantly whether it fits.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- !Counting words in the title separately from the body - paste everything together for an accurate total
- !Forgetting that footnotes and references add to the word count in most academic submissions
- !Using character count when the submission requires word count, or vice versa - always confirm which metric is required
Limitations
- –The tool counts all text in the input area, including headings and captions, which may differ from how your word processor counts
- –Hyphenated words (like well-known) are counted as one word, matching Microsoft Word behaviour
- –Reading time is an estimate based on average reading speed and will vary by audience and content complexity
Privacy
All text processing happens locally in your browser. Nothing you type or paste is sent to any server.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this count characters with or without spaces?
Both - the tool shows characters with spaces and without spaces separately.
How is reading time calculated?
Based on the average adult reading speed of 200-250 words per minute.
Does the word counter count hyphenated words as one or two words?
Hyphenated words like well-known or full-time are counted as one word. This matches the standard used by most word processing applications including Microsoft Word and Google Docs.
How is reading time calculated?
Reading time is estimated at an average adult reading speed of 200 to 250 words per minute. The figure shown is approximate. Dense technical content takes longer; lighter conversational text may be faster.
Does the word counter include headings and captions in the count?
Yes. The tool counts all text in the input area regardless of formatting. If you paste content with headings, captions, or footnotes, those words are included in the total.
What is the character limit for the word counter?
There is no hard character limit. The tool handles long texts like full articles, book chapters, or long-form reports without issues.