Word Counter

Count words, characters, sentences and paragraphs as you type. The reading-time estimate helps you plan a draft; it is not a test of writing quality or a recommended SEO length.

How to count words

1. Paste plain text into the input, or start typing.
2. Read the counters above the input. They update automatically.
3. Use Copy Text to copy your draft, or Clear All to reset it.

Worked counting example

Paste Hello world.. The result is 2 words, 12 characters, 11 characters without whitespace, 1 sentence, 1 paragraph and 1 minute of estimated reading time. A hyphenated term such as well-known counts as one word because it contains no whitespace.

Counting rules and limitations

• Words: each nonempty group separated by whitespace counts as one word. Punctuation attached to a word stays in that group; a standalone punctuation mark also counts as a group.
• Characters: the tool counts JavaScript UTF-16 units. Some emoji and combined characters contain multiple units, so this is not a count of visual symbols.
• Without whitespace: spaces, tabs and line breaks are excluded.
• Sentences: nonempty sections separated by a period, question mark or exclamation mark are counted. Abbreviations and decimal numbers can inflate this estimate.
• Paragraphs: each nonempty line counts as a paragraph, including lines separated by a single line break.
• Reading time: words divided by 200, rounded up to a whole minute. Empty input shows 0 minutes. Actual reading speed depends on the reader and text.

Use the count for the right purpose

Check an essay against its assignment limit or a draft against a client brief. Other word processors may use different rules, so use the required submission system for the final check. There is no universal word count that makes an article rank well; answer the reader's question clearly.

For a speech, time a rehearsal rather than treating the reading estimate as speaking time. For social posts, use the Character Counter and confirm the destination platform's current counting rules.

Privacy and large inputs

Counting runs locally in your browser. The tool does not upload the text. Very large drafts can make a browser tab less responsive; count a smaller section if that happens.

Frequently asked questions