Word Counter

Count words, characters, sentences and reading time as you type. Free online word counter that counts words, characters, sentences, paragraphs and reading time in real time. Perfect for essays, blogs and SEO content.

This interactive tool needs JavaScript enabled. All calculations run locally in your browser — nothing is ever uploaded.

This tool runs 100% in your browser. Your input is never sent to any server — you can even go offline after the page loads.

About the Word Counter

Whether you are hitting a 500-word essay limit, trimming a meta description, or pacing a blog post, this word counter updates live as you type or paste text. It measures words, characters (with and without spaces), sentences, paragraphs and average sentence length, then estimates reading and speaking time so you can size content for your audience. Nothing is uploaded — counting happens instantly on your device, so even confidential drafts stay private.

How to use the Word Counter

Paste or type your text into the box — counts update instantly.
Review the stat tiles for words, characters, sentences and paragraphs.
Check the estimated reading time to size your content for readers.
Use the Clear button to start over with a fresh count.

Key features

Real-time counting as you type or paste
Characters with and without spaces
Sentence, paragraph and average length stats
Estimated reading and speaking time

How does the word counter define a word?

Any sequence of characters separated by spaces or line breaks counts as one word — the same approach used by most word processors. Hyphenated words like "state-of-the-art" count as a single word.

How is reading time calculated?

Reading time assumes an average adult reading speed of about 225 words per minute, while speaking time uses 130 words per minute — the norms used by speechwriters and presenters.

Is my text uploaded to a server?

No. The counter runs entirely in your browser using JavaScript, so your text never leaves your device. It even works offline once the page is loaded.

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