Type or paste your text
Live statistics
Words0
Characters0
Characters (no spaces)0
Sentences0
Paragraphs0
Reading Time0 minutes
Free Online Word Counter
Count words, characters, sentences and paragraphs as you type. Everything is calculated in your browser, so your text is never uploaded.
What is a word counter?
A fast online word counter for writing, editing, SEO and publishing
Count Words measures more than the total word count. As you type or paste, it calculates words, characters with and without spaces, sentences, paragraphs and estimated reading time. That makes it useful for essays, blog posts, product descriptions, newsletters and social captions.
The counter is private by design. Your text is processed in your browser and is never sent to a server, so you can check drafts, client copy and confidential documents safely.
Working with files? Use the dedicated PDF, DOCX, TXT, Markdown, HTML and multi-file counters. For quick checks, the editor above is the fastest way to count words, characters and sentences in real time.
How the counts are calculated
- A word is any group of characters between spaces that contains at least one letter or digit, so “don't”, “state-of-the-art” and “3.50” each count as one word.
- Chinese characters and Japanese kana are not separated by spaces, so each one counts as one word.
- Reading time assumes 238 words per minute and speaking time assumes 130 words per minute.
Use cases
For students
Check essay, assignment and scholarship word limits before submission.
For writers
Track draft length, paragraph structure and reading time while editing.
For SEO teams
Measure article length, keyword repetition and content structure in seconds.
For social media
Use character counts to keep captions, posts and ads within platform limits.
How to use
- 1
Paste or type your text
Type straight into the editor or paste content copied from another document.
- 2
Review live statistics
Words, characters, sentences, paragraphs and reading time update automatically.
- 3
Jump to a specialized tool when needed
Open the PDF, DOCX, character, sentence or reading-time tool for a more focused job.
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Features
Count words, characters, sentences and paragraphs instantly. Free online word counter for essays, articles, social posts and SEO. Works in your browser, no upload required.
Real-time Analysis
Get instant word, character, sentence, and paragraph counts as you type
Multi-language Support
Counts space-separated languages by word, and Chinese and Japanese by character
Keyword Analysis
Identify the most frequently used words in your text
Reading Time
Estimate how long it takes to read your content
Privacy First
All analysis is done locally in your browser - your text never leaves your device
Free Forever
No registration required, completely free to use
FAQ
How does this word counter count words?
It splits your text at spaces and line breaks and counts every piece that contains at least one letter or digit. Hyphenated words, contractions, numbers and URLs count as one word each, and punctuation on its own is not counted.
Is my text stored or uploaded?
No. All counting happens in your browser. Your text is never sent to our servers, and nothing is saved after you close the page.
Does it count Chinese, Japanese and Korean text?
Yes. Each Chinese character and each Japanese kana counts as one word, because these scripts do not put spaces between words. Korean, like English, is counted by spaces.
Do spaces count as characters?
Yes. “Characters” includes spaces, punctuation and line breaks. “Characters (no spaces)” leaves out all whitespace, which is the number some forms and assignments ask for.
How is reading time calculated?
The word count is divided by 238 words per minute, the average silent reading speed of adults reading English non-fiction, and rounded up to the next minute.
Can I count words in a PDF or Word file?
Yes. Use the PDF, DOCX, TXT, RTF, CSV, Markdown, HTML or EPUB counters. Files are read in your browser and are not uploaded.