Word and Character Counter
A quick count for drafts, posts, titles, bios, homework, meta descriptions, and form fields. Paste your text and see the numbers without opening a document editor.
Word and Character Counter
Drop a .txt or .md file onto this box to count it.
- Words
- 0
- Characters
- 0
- No spaces
- 0
- Sentences
- 0
- Paragraphs
- 0
- Reading time
- 0 sec
- Speaking time
- 0 sec
Type or paste text to see the counts.
About this tool
Use it when a platform has a limit, a teacher gave a target, or a title needs to stay short. It also helps when you’re trimming copy and want to know if the shorter version is actually shorter. Set a character limit to see how many characters you have left.
How to use it
- Type, paste, or drop a text file into the box. Counts update as you go.
- Read the numbers on the right: words, characters with and without spaces, sentences, and paragraphs, plus reading and speaking time.
- Enter a character limit if you’re writing for a platform with one. The tool tells you how many characters remain, or how many you’re over.
- Check Most repeated words to spot overused terms in a draft.
What it can count
- Words
- Characters with spaces
- Characters without spaces
- Sentences
- Paragraphs
- Reading and speaking time
Tip: If a sentence feels heavy, count the words. Long isn’t always bad, but it often tells you where the knot is.
Common length limits
These are approximate and platforms change them, so check the current rules before you publish.
| Where | Limit |
|---|---|
| Page title (SEO) | about 50–60 characters |
| Meta description | about 150–160 characters |
| Standard X (Twitter) post | 280 characters |
| Instagram bio | 150 characters |
| LinkedIn headline | 220 characters |
| YouTube video title | 100 characters |
| Single text message (SMS) | 160 characters |
| College application essay | 650 words (Common App) |
Privacy note
Your text is counted in your browser and is not stored or uploaded, so drafts and private documents stay with you.
Frequently asked questions
How are words counted?
A word is any run of characters between spaces that contains at least one letter or number, so a lone dash does not count. Hyphenated words and URLs count as one. For Chinese, Japanese, and Korean text, which has no spaces, your browser’s language rules split the words.
Why is my count different from Word or Google Docs?
Editors disagree on edge cases such as hyphenated compounds, numbers with slashes, and symbols. Differences are usually a handful of words. For a hard limit, use the tool the recipient will use.
How are reading and speaking time worked out?
Reading time assumes about 238 words per minute, the average adult silent-reading speed for non-fiction found in research. Speaking time assumes 150 words per minute, a comfortable presentation pace.
Do emoji count as one character?
Yes. The tool counts what you see, so an emoji, or a letter with an accent, counts as one character. Some platforms count differently, so treat the number as a guide near hard limits.