Word Counter
Count the words, characters, sentences and paragraphs in any text as you type or paste it, along with an estimated reading time. Everything updates live and nothing is sent anywhere — the text stays in your browser, which matters when what you are counting is unpublished work.
How to count words
- Paste or type your text into the box.
- Watch the counts update live as you type.
- Use it to check essay, caption or article length.
When you'd use this
- Assignments with word limits — Essays and applications that specify a maximum or minimum length.
- Article writing — Checking a draft against a commissioned word count.
- Speeches and presentations — Using the reading time to judge whether a talk fits its slot.
- Job applications — Cover letters and personal statements with strict limits.
Good to know
- Five figures at once — Words, characters, sentences, paragraphs and an estimated reading time, all updating as you type.
- Reading time assumes 200 words a minute — That is a common average for silent reading. Read aloud, allow rather longer.
- Words are split on whitespace — Hyphenated words count as one. Different tools handle edge cases slightly differently, so a count may vary by one or two against another counter.
- Your text never leaves the page — Counting happens entirely in your browser, so unpublished writing is not uploaded anywhere.
Frequently asked questions
How is reading time estimated?
Based on an average reading speed of about 200 words per minute.
Does this store or send my text anywhere?
No — counting happens entirely in your browser as you type. Nothing is sent anywhere.
Is my text uploaded or stored anywhere?
No. The counting runs in your browser and the text is never transmitted or saved. Closing the tab discards it completely.
Why does my word count differ slightly from Word's?
Different programs treat hyphenated words, numbers and symbols differently. A gap of one or two words on a long document is normal; a large gap usually means something like a footnote is being counted differently.
How is reading time worked out?
Words divided by 200, which is a common average silent reading speed, rounded up to at least one minute.