Free browser tool

Word & Character Counter

A fast count is useful when a platform, assignment, pitch, bio, abstract, or publication has a hard length limit.

0Words
0Characters
0Characters, no spaces
0Sentences
0Paragraphs
0 minReading time

How to use this tool

  1. 1
    Paste or type text into the large field.
  2. 2
    Read the live counts below the field.
  3. 3
    Compare the count with the requirement you are writing for.
  4. 4
    Revise for clarity rather than deleting words mechanically just to hit a number.

Use the result well

  • Word counts can differ slightly between editors because hyphens, symbols, URLs, and contractions are tokenized differently.
  • A reading-time estimate is only a rough planning aid; complexity, formatting, audience, and language change actual reading speed.
  • If a submission portal has its own counter, treat that portal as the final authority for its requirement.

Frequently asked questions

Does this word counter upload my text?

The counter logic in this page runs in your browser and does not intentionally submit the text field to the site.

Why can word counts differ between tools?

Different software makes different decisions about hyphenated terms, symbols, contractions, URLs, and other edge cases.

What reading speed does the estimate use?

This tool uses a simple estimate of about 225 words per minute, rounded up to the next minute.