Word Counter
Count words, characters, sentences and paragraphs in any text, with reading and speaking time.
Count your words
Your text counts
Reading time uses 200 words per minute. Speaking time uses 150 words per minute.
Most frequent words
The 10 words you use most often. Use it to spot repetition before you publish.
How word counting works
This free word counter counts words, characters, sentences and paragraphs in any text you paste. It is for students, writers, bloggers and anyone who needs to meet a word limit. There is no sign-up, nothing is uploaded, and the tool runs entirely in your browser.
How does a word counter count words?
A word counter splits your text at spaces, line breaks and tabs, then counts each separate piece as one word. Punctuation attached to a word, such as a comma after world, does not create an extra word. Numbers count as words too, so a date or a figure adds to the total. Empty text gives zero words.
What is the difference between characters with and without spaces?
Characters with spaces count every letter, digit, punctuation mark and space in your text. Characters without spaces count the same text but leave out spaces, tabs and line breaks. The gap between the two numbers shows how much white space your text holds. Many forms use the without spaces count, so check which limit applies.
How is reading time calculated?
Reading time divides your word count by 200, the average adult reading speed in words per minute used by many publishers. A 200 word passage takes about one minute, while a 600 word article takes about three minutes. Speaking time uses 150 words per minute, the pace of clear conversational speech. Both figures are estimates, because every reader is different.
A 2019 study by Marc Brysbaert, published in the journal Frontiers in Psychology, found that average silent reading speed for adults is about 238 words per minute, which is why this tool uses 200 words per minute as a careful, rounded estimate.
What is a good word count for a blog post?
There is no single ideal length, because the right count depends on the topic and the reader. A short product description may need only 100 words, while a complete guide often needs 1,500 words or more. Aim to cover the topic fully and stop when there is nothing useful left to add. Search engines reward complete answers, not padding.
How can writers use the most frequent words table?
The frequent words table shows which words you repeat most often in your text. Repeated filler words, such as very, just and really, stand out when they top the list. Good writing uses varied words, so a word that appears far more than the rest is a sign to rewrite that passage. Use it to spot repetition before you publish.
Reading and speaking time at common word counts
The table below was worked out with the same speeds this tool uses, 200 words per minute for reading and 150 words per minute for speaking.
| Word count | Reading time | Speaking time |
|---|---|---|
| 100 words | 30 seconds | 40 seconds |
| 500 words | 2 minutes 30 seconds | 3 minutes 20 seconds |
| 1,000 words | 5 minutes | 6 minutes 40 seconds |
| 2,000 words | 10 minutes | 13 minutes 20 seconds |
Frequently asked questions
Does this word counter count hyphenated words as one word or two?
Hyphenated words count as one word, because there is no space inside them. The same rule applies to words joined by an apostrophe, such as don’t, which counts as one word.
Do numbers count as words?
Yes. Any group of characters separated by spaces counts as a word, including numbers, dates and years. A price such as 49.99 counts as one word in this tool.
Why do my word counts differ between tools?
Different tools use different rules for hyphens, numbers, bullet points and line breaks. Some tools skip numbers, while others count them. This tool counts every space separated group as a word, which is the most common rule.
How many words are in a page?
A typical double spaced page holds about 250 words, while a single spaced page holds about 500 words. A 1,000 word article is therefore about two single spaced pages, or about four double spaced pages.
Does the tool count words in PDFs or images?
No. This tool counts only text you paste into the box. For a PDF, copy the text from the document first and paste it here. Text inside an image cannot be counted until it is typed out.
Is my text private?
Yes. The counter runs entirely in your browser. Your text is never uploaded, stored or shared with anyone.
What is the average word length in English?
The average English word is about 4 to 5 letters long. If your average is far above that, your writing may use long words where shorter ones would be clearer, so try simpler words for your reader.
More tools you may need
Need to change the case of your text? Try the Case Converter. Want reading time on its own? Use the Reading Time Calculator. For a different kind of code, try the Morse Code Translator.
