Word Counter

Count words, characters, sentences, paragraphs and estimated reading time. Updates as you type.

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Words
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Characters
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No spaces
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Sentences
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Paragraphs
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Reading time

What this word counter measures

This tool counts the most common writing metrics in real time:

  • Words — sequences of non-whitespace characters separated by spaces.
  • Characters (with and without spaces) — useful for character-limited platforms like Twitter/X or SMS.
  • Sentences — chunks ending in ., ! or ?.
  • Paragraphs — blocks separated by blank lines.
  • Reading time — assumes an average adult reading speed of 225 words per minute.

Common writing length targets

  • Tweet / X post: 280 characters
  • Meta description (SEO): 150–160 characters
  • Blog post (good for ranking): 1,500–2,500 words
  • College essay: typically 500–1,000 words
  • Short story: 1,500–7,500 words
  • Novel: 70,000–100,000 words

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this work offline?

Yes — once the page is loaded, all counting happens in your browser. Nothing is sent to a server.

How is reading time calculated?

We use 225 words per minute, the average for adult silent reading. Technical or dense material reads slower (180 wpm); light fiction reads faster (260+ wpm).

Is my text private?

Yes. Text never leaves your device. We don't log, store or transmit anything you paste.