Word Counter
Paste or type your text and see the number of words, characters, sentences and paragraphs update instantly. It also estimates how long the text takes to read or speak, which is useful for essays, social posts, speeches and blog articles.
Last reviewed:
- Words
- 0
- Characters
- 0
- Characters (no spaces)
- 0
- Sentences
- 0
- Paragraphs
- 0
- Lines
- 0
- Reading time (200 wpm)
- 0 sec
- Speaking time (130 wpm)
- 0 sec
Everything happens in your browser. Your text is not uploaded or stored anywhere.
How to use this calculator
- Type or paste text into the box.
- Read the live counts below the box.
- Check the reading and speaking time estimates.
- Use Clear to start again.
Formula and variables
Words = pieces of text separated by spaces that contain a letter or number Reading time = Words ÷ 200 words per minute Speaking time = Words ÷ 130 words per minute
- Characters - every visible symbol, counted as a person sees it, so an emoji counts as one.
- Sentences - pieces of text ending with a full stop, question mark, exclamation mark or the Hindi purna viram (।).
- Paragraphs - blocks of text separated by a blank line.
Worked example
Counting the text: Hello world. This is a test!
| Text | Hello world. This is a test! |
|---|---|
| Words | 6 |
| Characters | 28 (23 without spaces) |
| Sentences | 2 |
- Splitting on spaces gives six words.
- The sentence is 28 characters long including 5 spaces, so 23 without spaces.
- Two full stops or exclamation marks end two sentences.
What changes the result
- Hyphens and apostrophes. A hyphenated word such as 'well-known' counts as one word.
- Numbers. Numbers count as words.
- Reading speed. People read at different speeds. 200 words per minute is an average, and technical text takes longer.
- Language. Words are split at spaces, so languages written without spaces between words are not counted accurately.
Benefits and practical uses
- Stay within essay, application or social media limits.
- Estimate how long a speech will run.
- Private: nothing is sent to a server.
Assumptions and limitations
- Words are separated by whitespace.
- Reading and speaking speeds are averages and for estimation only.
- Different word processors may count slightly differently.
Frequently asked questions
How are words counted?
Text is split at spaces and line breaks, and each piece that contains a letter or number counts as a word.
Does it count Hindi text?
Yes. Hindi and other languages that separate words with spaces are counted, and the purna viram (।) ends a sentence.
Is my text saved?
No. The text stays in your browser and is lost when you close or refresh the page.
Why does another tool show a different count?
Tools differ in how they treat hyphens, symbols and numbers. The difference is usually small.
How is reading time worked out?
By dividing the word count by 200 words per minute. Speaking time uses 130 words per minute.
References
Page last reviewed on . This calculator gives estimates for planning only; it is not financial advice and not an offer from any lender.