How to count words
- Type or paste your text into the box.
- The counts update as you type: words, characters, sentences, paragraphs, reading and speaking time.
- Check the most used words and the character limits table for social posts and SEO tags.
- Copy the text when you are done.
What it counts
- Words, using your browser’s language-aware word rules, so contractions such as don’t count as one word and languages without spaces are handled sensibly.
- Characters with and without spaces.
- Sentences and paragraphs (a paragraph is text separated by a blank line).
- Reading time at 238 words per minute and speaking time at 150 words per minute.
- Most used words, ignoring common words like the and and, with their density as a percentage.
Character limits at a glance
The table under the counter shows how much room you have left for common limits:
| Where | Limit |
|---|---|
| Google title tag (approx. before cut-off) | 60 characters |
| Meta description (approx. before cut-off) | 160 characters |
| SMS | 160 characters (fewer with emoji) |
| X (Twitter) post, standard account | 280 characters |
| YouTube video title | 100 characters |
| Instagram caption | 2,200 characters |
| LinkedIn post | 3,000 characters |
Google actually cuts titles and descriptions by pixel width, so treat those two as guides rather than hard rules.
Typical word counts
Essays and assignments usually give a word range, often with 10% leeway either way; check your institution’s rules. A five-minute speech is about 750 words. For blog posts, cover the topic fully rather than aiming for a number.
Private
Your text is counted in your browser and never stored or sent. Need to fix capital letters? Use the Case Converter. Cleaning up AI-generated text? Try the AI Text Cleaner.
Frequently asked questions
How is reading time calculated?
Reading time assumes 238 words per minute, the average silent reading speed for adults reading English non-fiction. Speaking time assumes 150 words per minute, a typical presentation pace.
Does it count words in other languages?
Yes. It uses your browser's built-in language rules, so words are counted sensibly in most languages, including those without spaces between words such as Chinese and Japanese.
Do characters include spaces?
Both are shown: Characters includes spaces and line breaks, and Characters without spaces leaves them out.
Is my text saved or sent anywhere?
No. The counting happens in your browser and nothing is stored or sent.