Overview
What this tool does
A word and character counter measures the length of any block of text in every dimension that usually matters: words, characters (with and without spaces), sentences, paragraphs, and lines. Plus reading-time and speaking-time estimates so you know how long the content takes to consume, and length presets for the common online limits (title tag, meta description, tweet, LinkedIn post). Every count updates as you type. Useful for SEO writers fitting copy into meta limits, content marketers timing social posts, students hitting an essay word count, speakers estimating runtime, and anyone who needs a quick read of "how long is this really." Runs entirely in your browser; no upload, no signup, no account.
How to
Use it in 3 steps
- Paste or type your text into the editor. Stats update live as you type.
- Read the count grid below the editor for words, characters, sentences, paragraphs, lines, and time estimates.
- Check the length-preset bars to see how your text fits common limits (title tag 60 chars, meta description 160 chars, tweet 280 chars, LinkedIn 3000 chars). Bars turn red when you've gone over.
- Use 'Copy' to put your text back on the clipboard or 'Clear' to start over.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
▶How is 'words' counted?
Whitespace-separated tokens. Multiple spaces, tabs, and newlines all count as one separator. Hyphenated words ('twenty-five') count as one word; common punctuation attached to a word ('Hello,') counts as one word.
▶How is reading time calculated?
Total words divided by 200 words per minute (the average adult silent-reading speed for prose). Faster readers go 250-300 wpm; technical content slows you down. Speaking time uses 130 wpm (comfortable spoken pace, including pauses).
▶Why does my sentence count seem off?
We split on . ! ? followed by whitespace or end of text. Abbreviations like 'Dr.' or 'e.g.' can inflate the count slightly. For long-form copy the count is close enough; for legal or technical text, treat it as an estimate.
▶Is anything sent to a server?
No. The text never leaves your browser. You can disconnect from the internet and the counter still works.
▶What's a paragraph?
A block of text separated from other blocks by one or more blank lines. Soft line wraps inside a paragraph don't increase the count.