Word Counter
Count words, characters, sentences and paragraphs live as you type.
Counts update live as you type. Your text never leaves your browser.
What is the Word Counter?
The Word Counter is a free online tool that analyzes your text the moment you type or paste it. It reports six live metrics: total words, total characters, characters excluding spaces, sentences, paragraphs, and an estimated reading time based on 200 words per minute. Everything runs in your browser, so your text never leaves your device — safe for drafts, essays, and confidential documents.
How to use it
- Paste your text into the box, or start typing directly.
- Watch the counters update instantly with every keystroke — no button to press.
- Check the reading-time card to see how long your text takes to read.
- Use the numbers to hit targets: essay word limits, article briefs, or social post lengths.
Key features
- Live counting with zero delay — updates on every keystroke.
- Separate character counts with and without spaces, since many forms count differently.
- Sentence and paragraph detection that handles abbreviations and line breaks sensibly.
- Reading-time estimate at 200 words per minute, the accepted average adult reading speed.
- Private by design: no uploads, no tracking, no account needed.
Real-world use cases
Students use it to stay within essay and assignment word limits. Bloggers and copywriters check that articles hit the length a client brief demands. Social media managers verify post lengths before publishing. Job seekers keep cover letters tight by watching the word count as they edit.
Practical tips
- Aim for a reading time under seven minutes for blog posts — most readers finish articles in that window.
- Paragraph counts help you spot walls of text: break up any paragraph longer than four or five lines.
- Remember that many submission forms count characters excluding spaces, so check both numbers.