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Word & Character Counter

A powerful tool for writers, students, and SEO professionals. Analyze your text metrics instantly.

Type or paste your text below
0Words
0Characters
0Sentences
0Paragraphs
⏱️Reading Time: ~0 min
🗣️Speaking Time: ~0 min
📝No Spaces: 0 chars

How to Use This Text Counter

Getting accurate text statistics is simple and instant:

  1. Paste or type your text – Enter the content you want to analyze in the text area above.
  2. View real-time counts – See words, characters, sentences, and paragraphs update instantly as you type.
  3. Check reading time – Estimate how long it takes to read your content.
  4. Copy your text – Use the cleaned, analyzed text for your project.

All processing happens in your browser. Your text is never sent to any server, ensuring complete privacy.

Why Word Count Matters

Understanding your text metrics is essential in many situations:

  • Academic writing: Essays and papers often have strict word limits (500, 1000, 2500 words)
  • SEO content: Blog posts typically perform best between 1,500-2,500 words for search rankings
  • Social media: Twitter/X limits posts to 280 characters; LinkedIn has its own limits
  • Professional writing: Press releases, abstracts, and proposals have specific requirements
  • Creative writing: Short stories, flash fiction, and poetry contests specify length limits
  • Email marketing: Subject lines work best under 50 characters
  • Meta descriptions: Optimal length is 150-160 characters for SEO

Common Character Limits by Platform

Here's a quick reference for popular platforms and their text limits:

  • Twitter/X: 280 characters per post
  • Instagram: 2,200 characters per caption (but only ~125 show before "more")
  • LinkedIn posts: 3,000 characters
  • Facebook posts: 63,206 characters (but shorter performs better)
  • YouTube titles: 100 characters (60 recommended)
  • Google meta titles: 50-60 characters
  • Google meta descriptions: 150-160 characters
  • SMS messages: 160 characters per segment
  • Pinterest descriptions: 500 characters

Understanding Reading Time

Reading time estimates help readers know what to expect and help writers gauge content length:

  • Average reading speed: Adults read approximately 200-250 words per minute
  • Technical content: Complex material is read slower (~150 words per minute)
  • Casual content: Light reading can be faster (~300 words per minute)
  • Speaking pace: If presenting, count about 130-150 words per minute

Recommended content lengths by reading time:

  • Quick reads: 3-5 minutes (600-1,000 words)
  • Medium articles: 7-10 minutes (1,500-2,000 words)
  • In-depth guides: 15-20 minutes (3,000-4,000 words)
  • Comprehensive resources: 30+ minutes (6,000+ words)

Frequently Asked Questions

Does it count spaces as characters?

Our tool shows both "characters with spaces" and "characters without spaces" so you can use whichever metric you need. Some platforms count spaces, others don't – now you have both numbers ready.

How are words counted?

Words are counted by identifying sequences of characters separated by spaces or line breaks. Hyphenated words (like "well-known") are typically counted as one word, matching how most word processors handle them.

What counts as a sentence?

Sentences are identified by terminal punctuation marks: periods (.), question marks (?), and exclamation points (!). Multiple punctuation marks (like "...") are counted appropriately.

Is my text stored or saved anywhere?

No. All processing happens entirely in your browser using JavaScript. Your text never leaves your device and is not sent to any server. When you close or refresh the page, the text is gone.

Why does my word count differ from Microsoft Word?

Different tools may count certain elements differently (hyphenated words, numbers, special characters). For official submissions, always verify with the specific tool your recipient uses, but counts should be very close.

Tips for Better Writing

Beyond counting words, consider these tips to improve your writing:

  • Match your length to your purpose: Don't pad content to hit a word count – add value instead
  • Use short paragraphs: Online readers prefer 2-3 sentence paragraphs for readability
  • Vary sentence length: Mix short punchy sentences with longer ones for rhythm
  • Cut unnecessary words: "In order to" → "to"; "at this point in time" → "now"
  • Read aloud: Hearing your text helps identify awkward phrasing
  • Consider your audience: Technical readers accept longer content; casual readers prefer brevity
  • Front-load important information: Put key points early in case readers don't finish
  • Use headings: Break up long text with clear section headers