Word Counter
Count words, characters and sentences instantly as you type.
Word & Character Counter
Real-time analysis for essays, tweets, and blog posts.
How to Count Words Instantly
- Paste or type your text into the box. Counts update live as you type — no button needed.
- Read your stats: words, characters, characters excluding spaces, sentences and paragraphs.
- Copy or clear with one click when you’re done.
What Gets Counted
- Words — the headline number for essays, articles and assignments.
- Characters (with spaces) — what most platforms and forms actually measure.
- Characters (no spaces) — used by some academic and publishing guidelines.
- Sentences & paragraphs — quick structural check for readability.
- Reading time — estimated at average adult reading speed.
Word Count Targets Worth Knowing
- Social post: under 280 characters (X) or ~150 words.
- School essay: typically 500–1,000 words.
- Blog post: 1,500+ words tends to perform best for search.
- Short story: 1,000–7,500 words by most definitions.
- Novel: 50,000+ words (NaNoWriMo target).
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the word counter free?
Yes — free, private, no signup. Your text never leaves your browser.
Does it count hyphenated words as one or two?
Hyphenated compounds count as one word, matching standard word-processor behavior.
Is my text uploaded anywhere?
No. Counting happens entirely in your browser with JavaScript — nothing is sent to any server.
What is a good reading-time estimate?
We use ~200 words per minute, the accepted average for adult silent reading.
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