Word Counter
Runs in your browser. Your files never leave your device.
How we keep your files private
How to use Word Counter
- Type or paste your text into the box.
- Read the live word, character, line and sentence counts.
- Edit the text until it fits the limit you need.
Common uses
- Keeping essays and assignments within a word limit.
- Checking blog posts and product descriptions for length.
- Estimating how long a speech or article takes to read.
About this tool
Paste or type your text and the counter updates instantly with words, characters (with and without spaces), lines, sentences and an estimated reading time. Reading time assumes about 200 words per minute, a common average for silent reading. Use it to stay inside limits for essays, meta descriptions, social posts or text messages. Everything is counted in your browser, so drafts never leave your device.
Worked example
The sentence “The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog” has 9 words, 43 characters including spaces and 35 characters without spaces. At the typical reading speed of about 200 words per minute, a 1,000-word article takes roughly 5 minutes to read.
Common problems and fixes
- The count is different from Microsoft Word.
- Tools disagree about hyphenated words, numbers and symbols. Check whether your target (an essay limit, a form) counts the same way, and leave a small safety margin.
- Line breaks are counted as characters.
- Paste the text as plain text. Hidden formatting characters from some editors can add to the total.
- Words in Chinese, Japanese or Thai look wrong.
- These languages do not separate words with spaces, so a word counter based on spaces under-counts them. Use the character count instead.
Next steps
Frequently asked questions
How is reading time estimated?
It divides the word count by 200 words per minute, a common average for silent reading. Fast and slow readers will differ.
Are spaces counted?
The tool shows characters both with and without spaces so you can match whichever limit applies.
Is there a text length limit?
There is no fixed limit; very large texts depend on your device's memory.
Are my files uploaded to a server?
No. Everything runs inside your browser on your own device, so your files and text are never sent anywhere.
Is it really free?
Yes. There is no sign-up, no watermark and no limit on how often you use it.
Does it work on my phone?
Yes. It works in any modern browser on phones, tablets and computers. Very large files may be slow on older phones.