Word Counter
Count words, characters, sentences and paragraphs as you type.
0
Words
0
Characters
0
Sentences
0 sec
Read time
Detailed breakdown
| Characters (no spaces) | 0 |
| Paragraphs | 0 |
| Lines | 0 |
| Unique words | 0 |
| Longest word | — |
| Average word length | — |
| Average sentence length | — |
| Speaking time (150 wpm) | 0 sec |
About Word Counter
Word and character limits appear everywhere: essay briefs, meta descriptions, tweet-length posts and submission forms. Counting by hand is slow and counting in a word processor means opening one.
This counter updates live as you type and breaks your text down into words, characters with and without spaces, sentences, paragraphs, unique words and an estimated reading time.
How Word Counter works in your browser
Words are counted by splitting on Unicode whitespace and discarding empty results, which handles multiple spaces, tabs and line breaks without inflating the total. Characters are counted both with and without spaces, because the two are asked for in different contexts.
One subtlety worth knowing: JavaScript strings are UTF-16, so a naive .length counts an emoji or certain CJK characters as two. The count here iterates by code point, so what is reported matches what you would count by eye.
Reading time is derived at roughly 200–250 words per minute, which is the accepted range for adult reading of general prose. Dense technical material runs slower and light narrative faster, so treat it as an estimate rather than a measurement.
When to use it
- Checking an essay, application or article against a strict word limit before submitting it.
- Fitting copy into a meta description, a tweet, or an ad slot with a hard character cap.
- Estimating how long a talk will take to deliver from its script.
- Counting words in a draft that is confidential — a manuscript, a legal filing, an unpublished report.
Frequently asked questions
How many words is a 500 word essay?
The counter shows the exact figure as you type, along with characters, sentences and paragraphs, so you can check against a limit before submitting.
How is a word defined?
A word is any run of characters separated by whitespace, which matches how word processors count.
Does it count characters with and without spaces?
Yes, both totals are shown, which is what most academic and publishing guidelines ask for.
Is my text stored?
No. Everything is counted in your browser and nothing is saved or transmitted.