Word Counter. Every count, as you type.
Count words, characters, sentences and paragraphs, with reading time and page estimates. Free, unlimited, and your text never leaves your browser.
- Words
- 0
- Characters
- 0
- Characters (no spaces)
- 0
- Sentences
- 0
- Paragraphs
- 0
- Reading time
- 0 min
- Speaking time
- 0 min
- Pages (single-spaced)
- 0
Free/No sign-up/Text never leaves your browser
Humanize this text →Count words in seconds
- 01
Paste or type
Add your essay, article, post or form answer to the box.
- 02
Read the stats
Words, characters, sentences, paragraphs, reading time and pages update instantly.
- 03
Edit to the limit
Trim or expand until you hit your target, then copy your text back.
A character counter and word counter in one
Live counting
Totals update on every keystroke, with no button to press.
Characters two ways
With and without spaces, for forms and platforms that count differently.
Reading and speaking time
Know how long a post takes to read or a speech takes to give.
Page estimate
See roughly how many single-spaced pages your text fills.
Stays in your browser
Nothing is uploaded. Close the tab and your text is gone.
Unlimited and free
No sign-up and no word limit.
How many words is a page?
The answer depends on font, size, spacing and margins, but most documents set in a 12-point font with one-inch margins land close to these figures. Use them to plan an essay or to check whether a draft is in the right range.
| Words | Single-spaced pages | Double-spaced pages | Reading time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 250 | 0.5 | 1 | about 1 min |
| 500 | 1 | 2 | about 2 min |
| 750 | 1.5 | 3 | about 3 min |
| 1,000 | 2 | 4 | about 4 min |
| 1,500 | 3 | 6 | about 6 min |
| 2,000 | 4 | 8 | about 8 min |
| 2,500 | 5 | 10 | about 11 min |
| 5,000 | 10 | 20 | about 21 min |
Common word and character limits
| Where | Typical limit |
|---|---|
| College application essay | 250–650 words, set by each application |
| Cover letter | 250–400 words |
| Blog post | Often 800–2,000 words, depending on the topic |
| Meta description | About 150–160 characters before search engines cut it off |
| Page title for search | About 50–60 characters |
Limits vary. Always check the exact rules of the school, publication or platform you are writing for.
What counts as a word?
This counter treats any run of characters between spaces or line breaks as one word. That matches how most word processors count: contractions like don't are one word, hyphenated compounds like long-term are one word, and numbers such as 2026 count as words. Punctuation on its own is not counted.
Hitting your word count
- Too long? Cut repeated points first, then filler phrases such as "it is important to note that". The AI rewriter has a Concise mode that trims text by 25–40% without losing content.
- Too short? Add an example, a number or a counterpoint rather than padding sentences. Readers notice padding.
- Working from an AI draft? Run it through the AI humanizer before you edit for length, so you are not counting words you will rewrite anyway.
Related writing tools
Straight answers
How does the word counter count words?
It counts every group of characters separated by spaces or line breaks. Hyphenated words such as well-known count as one word, and numbers count as words.
Does it count characters with and without spaces?
Yes. You see both totals, which is useful for forms, meta descriptions and social posts that limit characters.
How is reading time calculated?
Reading time assumes about 238 words per minute, a common average for adults reading non-fiction. Speaking time assumes about 150 words per minute.
How many pages is my text?
The counter estimates pages at about 500 words per single-spaced page. Double-spaced, plan for roughly 250 words per page. Font, size and margins change the real number.
Is my text sent anywhere?
No. The word counter runs entirely in your browser. Nothing you type is sent to our servers.
Is the word counter free?
Yes, with no word limit and no sign-up.
Got the length right? Make it sound right.
Humanize up to 500 words a day for free.