Word Counter
Count words, characters, sentences and paragraphs instantly, with an estimated reading time — free and private, right in your browser.
How to use the Word Counter
- Paste or type your text into the box below.
- Counts update instantly as you type — no button to press.
- Check words, characters (with and without spaces), sentences, paragraphs and reading time.
- Use the Clear button to start over.
About this tool
Whether you are trimming an essay to a 500-word limit, keeping a meta description under 160 characters, or pacing a speech, exact counts matter. This word counter gives you live statistics for words, characters, sentences and paragraphs the moment you type or paste text.
Unlike many online counters, nothing you write is sent to a server. The entire tool is a small script that runs locally in your browser, which makes it fast enough to recount an entire novel on every keystroke and private enough for confidential drafts, contracts or unpublished work.
The reading-time estimate uses the widely cited average of 225 words per minute for silent reading. For spoken delivery — presentations, podcasts, wedding speeches — plan for roughly 130 to 150 words per minute instead.
Frequently asked questions
- Is my text uploaded anywhere?
- No. Counting happens entirely in your browser with JavaScript. Your text never leaves your device.
- How is reading time calculated?
- We divide the word count by an average silent reading speed of 225 words per minute and round up to the nearest minute.
- What counts as a word?
- Any run of characters separated by whitespace. Hyphenated words like "well-known" count as one word.
- Is there a length limit?
- No fixed limit — the tool comfortably handles book-length manuscripts of several hundred thousand words.
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