Word Counter

This word counter gives you a live count of words, characters, sentences and paragraphs while you type or paste. It also estimates how long the text takes to read silently and to say out loud, which is handy for speeches, video scripts and presentations. Everything runs in your browser, so your writing is never uploaded anywhere.

How to use the word counter

1. Type in the box above, or paste text from Word, Google Docs, an email or a web page.
2. Watch the counts update instantly. There is no button to press.
3. Check the “Most used words” list to spot words you repeat too often.
4. Use “Copy text” to take your edited text back to where you were working.

When a word count matters

Students work to essay limits, such as a 500-word college application essay or a 2,000-word assignment. Freelance writers are often paid per word. Social platforms and search engines also have practical limits: a page title usually displays fully at around 50–60 characters, and a meta description at around 150–160 characters. Knowing your exact count saves you from trimming at the last minute.

How the counts are calculated

• Words are groups of letters or numbers separated by spaces or line breaks. Hyphenated words like “well-known” count as one word, which matches how most word processors count.
• Sentences end with a full stop, question mark or exclamation mark.
• Paragraphs are blocks of text separated by a blank line or line break.
• Reading time assumes about 238 words per minute, a commonly cited average for adult silent reading of non-fiction.
• Speaking time assumes about 140 words per minute, a comfortable pace for a talk or voice-over.

Frequently asked questions