Word Counter
Count the words, characters, sentences and paragraphs in any text, and see how long it takes to read.
Word counter
Paste or type. The counts update as you type.
Words
24
123
Characters
100
Characters (no spaces)
2
Sentences
1
Paragraphs
1
Lines
6 sec
Reading time
Private: Everything runs in this page. Nothing you type is sent anywhere or saved.
On this page
Word count examples
| Text | Words |
|---|---|
| Hello world | 2 |
| One two three four five | 5 |
| Two sentences. Here. | 3 |
| A spaced out line | 4 |
| well-known hyphenated words | 3 |
Formula
words = pieces of text between spaces, tabs and line breaks
How the word counter works
- Step onePaste or type your text into the box.
- Step twoThe counts change on every key press, so there is no button to press.
- Step threeRead the word count first, then check characters, sentences and reading time under it.
What this tool does not do
- It splits on spaces, tabs and line breaks, so it does not know language rules: text without spaces (such as Chinese or Japanese) counts as very few words.
- It does not check spelling, grammar or readability.
- The reading time is an average of 238 words per minute; your own pace will differ.
Frequently asked questions
How does the word counter decide what a word is?
It splits the text wherever there is a space, tab or line break and counts the pieces left over. A hyphenated word such as well-known counts as one word.
How is the reading time worked out?
The word count is divided by 238 words per minute, the average silent reading speed of adults for non-fiction found in a 2019 review of reading studies. Your own speed will differ.
Is my text uploaded or saved?
No. The counting happens inside this page. The text is not sent anywhere and nothing is stored.