Word Counter
Paste or type your text below and this word counter tracks your word count, character count and reading time live, no need to click a button to see the result.
About
About Word Counter
A word counter does exactly what the name says, it counts every word in your text the moment you type or paste it in, along with characters, sentences and an estimated reading time. This word count tool updates live as you write, so there's no waiting around or clicking a separate button to see where you stand.
Word count matters most when you're working against a limit, a college essay capped at 500 words, a meta description that needs to stay under a certain length, a cover letter your resume guidelines say should fit on one page. Rather than guessing or counting by hand, pasting your draft in here gives you an exact number in under a second.
The tool also breaks down character count with and without spaces, which matters for platforms like X or SMS that count by character rather than word, and sentence and paragraph counts, which are useful when an assignment or style guide specifies structure rather than just length.
Everything runs as you type, directly in your browser, so there's no lag between finishing a sentence and seeing the numbers update. You can paste in a full document, a single paragraph, or just a sentence you're testing, and the counts adjust instantly either way.
This is useful well beyond essays and school work. Writers use it to hit a publication's word count, marketers use it to keep ad copy or meta descriptions within limit, and students use it to check an assignment meets a minimum before submitting. It's free, with no sign-up and no cap on how much text you paste in.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Does this word counter count hyphenated words as one word or two?
A hyphenated word like "well-known" counts as a single word, which matches how most word processors and style guides treat it. If your specific assignment or platform counts differently, it's worth checking their own guidelines, since conventions can vary slightly between tools.
What's the difference between character count with and without spaces?
Character count with spaces includes every space between words, while without spaces only counts the letters, numbers and punctuation themselves. Platforms with strict character limits, like X or SMS messaging, usually count with spaces included, so that's the number worth checking against their limit.
How is reading time calculated?
Reading time is estimated based on an average adult reading speed, generally around 200 to 250 words per minute for silent reading. It's a useful estimate for blog posts or scripts, though actual reading time varies by reader and how dense the content is.
Can I count words in a PDF or Word document with this tool?
You'll need to copy the text out of the document first and paste it in here, since this tool works on text you paste or type directly rather than uploading a file. Most PDF readers and Word itself let you select all and copy in a couple of clicks.
Is there a limit to how much text I can paste in?
No, you can paste in anything from a single sentence to a full manuscript. Since everything processes in your browser rather than on a server, there's no file size cap or daily usage limit to worry about.
Does the word counter save or store what I type?
No, nothing you type or paste is sent anywhere or saved. The counting happens locally in your browser tab, so your draft stays private and disappears once you close or refresh the page.
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