Word Counter
Free Online Tool
Count words, characters, sentences and reading time instantly
What is a word counter?
A word counter is a tool that counts the number of words, characters, sentences, and paragraphs in any piece of text. It’s used by students writing essays, bloggers hitting word targets, content writers checking article length, and anyone who needs to know how long their writing is.
How to use this word counter
Simply paste or type your text into the box above. The counter updates instantly as you type — no button needed. You’ll see your word count, character count, sentence count, paragraph count, and estimated reading and speaking times.
What does reading time mean?
Reading time is calculated at 238 words per minute, which is the average adult reading speed. Speaking time is calculated at 130 words per minute, which is typical for a presentation or podcast. These are estimates — actual speed varies by person.
Word count for common writing tasks
- School essay: 500–1,000 words
- Blog post / article: 1,000–2,500 words
- SEO long-form article: 2,000–4,000 words
- University assignment: 2,000–5,000 words
- Tweet / X post: max 280 characters
- Instagram caption: max 2,200 characters