Word Counter
Count words, characters, sentences and paragraphs as you type, with reading time and top keywords.
Essays, cover letters, product descriptions and social posts all come with limits. This counter keeps a live tally while you write, so you know exactly where you stand, and it also shows how long your text takes to read and which words you lean on most.
How to use the Word Counter
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Type or paste
Write in the box or paste text from any document, email or website.
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Watch the counts
Words, characters, sentences, paragraphs and reading time update instantly.
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Review keywords
Check the top keywords and their share of the text, then copy or download your edited text.
Features
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Seven live counts
Words, characters, characters without spaces, sentences, paragraphs, reading time and speaking time.
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Keyword density
See the eight most used meaningful words, with common filler words left out.
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Works in many languages
Uses your browser’s language rules for word counting where available, including languages without spaces.
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Undo and redo
Recover text you deleted by mistake with Ctrl+Z.
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Copy and download
Copy your text or save it as a .txt file.
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Private
Your writing stays in your browser. Nothing is sent or stored.
When to use it
Essays and assignments
Stay inside a 500 or 1,500 word limit without guessing.
Job applications
Keep cover letters and application answers within the word or character limits forms set.
SEO writing
Check article length and spot keywords you have repeated too often.
Speeches and videos
Speaking time helps you plan a talk, a presentation or a video script.
How reading and speaking time are worked out
Reading time assumes about 238 words per minute, a common average for adults reading non fiction on screen. Speaking time uses about 140 words per minute, a comfortable pace for presentations. Your own speed may be faster or slower.
What counts as a word?
Groups of letters or numbers separated by spaces or punctuation. Hyphenated words like “well-known” may count as one or two words depending on your browser’s language rules. Different word processors handle this slightly differently, so small gaps against Microsoft Word or Google Docs are normal.
Typical word counts to aim for
A tweet is up to 280 characters, a LinkedIn post works well around 150 to 300 words, a cover letter usually fits in 250 to 400 words, a typical school essay ranges from 500 to 1,500 words, and an in depth blog guide is often 1,500 to 2,500 words.
Length should follow purpose. Cut sentences that repeat a point, and check the keyword list: if one word takes more than about 3 percent of a long text, try a synonym or rephrase so the writing reads naturally.
Frequently asked questions
Is my text saved anywhere?
No. The counter runs in your browser and nothing you type is sent to a server or stored.
Does it count characters with spaces?
Yes. You get characters with spaces and characters without spaces as two separate numbers.
Why is the count different from Microsoft Word?
Programs treat hyphens, dashes, numbers and special characters slightly differently. The difference is usually just a few words.
How is reading time calculated?
By dividing the word count by 238 words per minute, a typical adult reading speed for on screen text.
What is keyword density?
The share of the text taken up by one word. A word used 10 times in 500 words has a density of 2 percent.
Can I count words in other languages?
Yes. Modern browsers recognise word boundaries in many languages, including ones written without spaces.