Word counter
Type or paste your text to count words, characters, sentences and paragraphs instantly, and see how long it takes to read or say aloud, how many pages it fills and which words you use most.
Off: your text is gone when you close the page. It is never sent anywhere.
Most used words
Your most frequent words appear here.
- Your text stays on your device
- Free, no sign-up
- Works on phone and desktop
How to count words
- 1
Type in the box, or paste text from a document, email or web page.
- 2
Read the word count and the other figures as you type: characters, sentences, paragraphs and pages.
- 3
Set a word goal if you are writing to a limit, and watch the progress bar.
- 4
Check most used words to spot repetition before you hand it in.
Features
Counts like your word processor
Words are separated by spaces, so "well-known" and "don't" count as one word each, just as in Word and Google Docs.
Live as you type
Words, characters, sentences, paragraphs, reading and speaking time and pages update with every keystroke.
Goals and repetition
Set a target word count and see how far you have to go, and find the words you lean on too often.
Private
Your text is counted in your browser and never sent anywhere. Saving it in this browser is up to you.
Word count, time and pages at a glance
How long a piece of writing takes to read or present, and how many pages it fills, for some common lengths. Reading time uses 238 words a minute and speaking time 150; pages assume a 12-point font with 1-inch margins.
| Words | Reading | Speaking | Pages (single) | Pages (double) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 250 | 1 min 3 sec | 1 min 40 sec | 0.5 | 1 |
| 500 | 2 min 6 sec | 3 min 20 sec | 1 | 2 |
| 650 | 2 min 44 sec | 4 min 20 sec | 1.3 | 2.6 |
| 1,000 | 4 min 12 sec | 6 min 40 sec | 2 | 4 |
| 1,500 | 6 min 18 sec | 10 min | 3 | 6 |
| 2,000 | 8 min 24 sec | 13 min 20 sec | 4 | 8 |
| 5,000 | 21 min 1 sec | 33 min 20 sec | 10 | 20 |
Writing to a word limit
Many assignments and applications set a hard limit. The Common App personal essay for US colleges, for example, allows up to 650 words, and journals often cap abstracts at 150 to 250 words. Set the limit as your word goal: the bar fills as you write and tells you how many words are left or how far over you are.
To trim, look first at most used words. If a word like "really", "very" or "just" is near the top, cutting it is the quickest saving. Long sentences are the next place to look: the counter shows the length of your longest one, and splitting a 40-word sentence in two usually reads better and loses a few words along the way.
Reading time, speaking time and pages
Reading time helps for blog posts and newsletters, where readers like to know what they are committing to. Speaking time is the one to watch for a speech, a wedding toast or a presentation: at about 150 words a minute, a five-minute talk is around 750 words. Page counts are estimates; the real number depends on font, line spacing, headings and paragraph length.
For short texts with strict character limits, use the character counter. To fix capitalization, try the case converter, and to keep drafts between visits, the online notepad saves as you type.
Frequently asked questions
How does the word counter count words?
A word is a run of letters or numbers between spaces, so "well-known", "don't" and "2026" each count as one, and punctuation on its own (like a dash between spaces) doesn't count. That matches how Microsoft Word counts. Languages written without spaces, such as Chinese and Japanese, are split into words by your browser's language rules.
Why is my count slightly different from Google Docs or Word?
Each program treats a few edge cases its own way: hyphenated words, numbers with symbols, web addresses and text in footnotes or text boxes. Differences are usually a word or two in a few hundred. If a limit is strict, check in the program your teacher or editor will use.
How long does it take to read 1,000 words?
About 4 min 12 sec at 238 words a minute, the average silent reading speed for non-fiction found in a 2019 review of 190 studies by Marc Brysbaert. Read aloud at a presentation pace of about 150 words a minute, it takes about 6 min 40 sec.
How many pages is 1,000 words?
Roughly 2 pages single-spaced or 4 pages double-spaced, in a 12-point font like Times New Roman with 1-inch margins. Headings, larger fonts, wider spacing and short paragraphs all add pages.
Does it count characters too?
Yes: characters with and without spaces, counted the way you see them, so an emoji or an accented letter counts as one. For posts, text messages and other limits, the character counter shows how much room is left on each platform.
Is my text saved or uploaded?
It is never uploaded. By default it disappears when you close the page. If you turn on "Keep my text in this browser", it is stored on your own device so it is still there next time; turning it off deletes it.
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