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Word Counter
Count words, characters and sentences in any text, and see how long it takes to read. Free, with no sign-up — handy for essays, posts, and anything with a word limit.
Example filled in: the sample text below has 24 words, 125 characters and 3 sentences — about 7 seconds of reading.
Your text
Results appear here as you type.
How to use the word counter
- Paste or type your text into the box.
- The counts update as you type — words, characters with and without spaces, sentences, paragraphs, and reading time.
- There is nothing to submit. The numbers in the panel on the right are live.
Worked example — the sample text
The sample text in the box is three sentences: "The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog. It is a short sentence that everyone knows. This tool counts every word for you." It has 24 words, 125 characters including spaces, 102 characters without spaces, 3 sentences and 1 paragraph. At an average reading speed of 200 words a minute, it takes about 7 seconds to read. Paste the same text above and you will get the same counts.
Frequently asked questions
How do I count the words in a document?
Paste the text into the box above. The word count updates as you type, with no sign-up and no upload.
What counts as a word?
A word is a run of letters separated by spaces. Numbers count as words too. Extra spaces and line breaks do not add to the count.
How is reading time worked out?
The tool divides your word count by 200 words a minute, a commonly used average reading speed for adults. A 1,000-word text takes about 5 minutes to read at that speed.
Does the word counter keep my text?
No. The counting runs in your browser and your text is never sent to any server or stored.
Can I count characters without spaces?
Yes — the panel shows characters both with spaces and without spaces, so you can use whichever count a form or a limit asks for.
Sources and method. Reading time uses an average adult reading speed of 200 words per minute (commonly cited estimate). Worked example checked in Node: the sample text has 24 words, 125 characters, 102 characters without spaces, 3 sentences, 1 paragraph, 0.12 minutes of reading time.