Word Counter and Character Counter

A fast, private word counter

This word counter updates the moment you type. It is built for bloggers, students, copywriters and anyone who needs to hit a word limit, whether that is a 300-word school essay, a 160-character meta description or a 2,000-word blog post. The text never leaves your browser, so it is safe for drafts and private documents.

You get nine numbers at once:

• Words and unique words
• Characters with and without spaces
• Sentences and paragraphs
• Average word length
• Reading time, based on an average silent reading speed of about 238 words per minute
• Speaking time, based on about 130 words per minute, which is handy for speeches and video scripts

Below the numbers you also see your top keywords, so you can tell at a glance what your text is mostly about.

How to use the word counter

1. Type directly in the box or paste text from Word, Google Docs or a website.
2. Read the live statistics under the box.
3. Use Copy text to copy your edited version, or Clear to start again.

Common word count targets

These are common habits, not rules. Google does not rank pages by word count. It rewards content that fully answers the reader's question, which is why its guide on helpful content talks about depth and originality rather than length. Write as much as the topic needs, then stop.

Tips for better writing

Short sentences and paragraphs are easier to read on a phone. If your average sentence is long, split it. If your top keywords do not match your topic, your message may be drifting.

For deeper SEO analysis, open the Keyword Density Checker. Need to fix capital letters? Try the Case Converter. Designers can grab placeholder text from the Lorem Ipsum Generator.

Writing for SEO

Word count is just the start. After writing, check that your main keyword is used naturally with the Keyword Density Checker, preview your headline in Google with the SERP Preview Tool, and make sure a rewrite is truly new with the Text Similarity Checker. For website pages, a clear structure matters too, so check your headings with the Heading Checker.

Who uses a word counter?

A word counter looks like a simple tool, but people use it for very different jobs:

• Students checking that an essay, assignment or thesis chapter meets the required word limit.
• Bloggers and SEO writers making sure an article is long enough to cover the topic properly.
• Social media managers fitting posts into character limits.
• Translators and freelance writers who charge per word and need an exact count for invoices.
• Speakers and YouTubers who use the speaking time to plan a speech or video script.
• Job seekers keeping a cover letter or LinkedIn summary short and focused.

Characters with and without spaces

Some platforms count spaces and some do not. Character limits in SMS, many forms and most social networks include spaces, so use "characters with spaces" for those. Some translation agencies and academic rules count characters without spaces, so both numbers are shown.

Character limits on popular platforms

Limits change from time to time, so check the platform's own help page if you are close to the edge.

Reading time and speaking time explained

Reading time estimates how long a typical adult needs to read your text silently. Studies put the average silent reading speed for English non-fiction at around 238 words per minute, which is the figure this tool uses. Speaking time uses about 130 words per minute, a comfortable pace for presentations and voice-overs. Fast talkers may reach 160 words per minute, so treat both numbers as estimates.

Showing a reading time at the top of a blog post is a nice touch: it tells visitors what to expect and can make long articles feel less intimidating.

How long should a blog post be?

There is no perfect length. Look at the pages already ranking for your keyword, see how deeply they cover the topic, and aim to be more useful, not just longer. A focused 800-word answer can beat a padded 3,000-word article. When your draft is ready, make sure the main keyword appears naturally using the Keyword Density Checker, and give the article a clean URL with the Slug Generator.

Example: hitting an essay word limit

A university asks for a personal statement of 500 words maximum. Your draft has 640 words. Paste it into the counter, then:

1. Look at the average sentence length. Long sentences are the easiest place to cut words.
2. Remove filler phrases such as "in order to" (use "to"), "due to the fact that" (use "because") and "I would like to say that".
3. Delete repeated ideas; the top keywords list shows words you may be overusing.
4. Watch the count update live until you are at or just under 500.

Most institutions treat the limit strictly, and some systems cut off text above it, so it is safer to stay a few words below the maximum.

Last updated: October 25, 2026