Word Counter
Paste or type below. Counts update as you write, and nothing you enter leaves your browser.
- Words
- 0
- Characters
- 0
- No spaces
- 0
- Sentences
- 0
- Paragraphs
- 0
- Reading time
- 0s
Against common limits
How words are counted
A word is any run of characters separated by whitespace. That is the definition used by this tool, by Microsoft Word, and by almost every academic word-count requirement. It means "well-known" counts as one word, "e-mail me" counts as two, and a number like "1,250" counts as one. Character counts come in two forms — with and without spaces — and social platforms almost always mean with spaces, which is the figure to check against a 280-character post limit.
How reading time is estimated
Reading time here assumes 238 words per minute, the mean silent reading rate for adults reading English prose found in a 2019 meta-analysis of 190 studies. It is a better default than the 200 or 250 wpm figures many tools use.
| Length | Approximate reading time |
|---|---|
| 500 words | 2 minutes |
| 1,000 words | 4 minutes |
| 2,000 words | 8.5 minutes |
| 5,000 words | 21 minutes |
Reading aloud is much slower — around 150 wpm — so double the figure shown if you are timing a speech or a script.
Common length limits worth knowing
| Where | Limit | Practical advice |
|---|---|---|
| X / Twitter post | 280 characters | Links count as 23 regardless of real length |
| SMS | 160 characters | Longer messages split and may cost more |
| Search result title | ~60 characters | Measured in pixels, so wide letters truncate sooner |
| Meta description | ~160 characters | Also pixel-based; front-load the important words |
| Instagram caption | 2,200 characters | Only the first ~125 show before "more" |
| UCAS personal statement | 4,000 characters | Includes spaces; 47 lines maximum |
How to use the Word Counter
- Paste or type your text into the box.
- Watch the counts update live as you edit.
- Check the bars underneath if you are writing to a platform limit.
Frequently asked questions
Does a hyphenated word count as one word or two?
One. Because words are split on whitespace, "well-known" and "mother-in-law" each count as a single word. Most style guides and academic markers use the same convention.
Is my text uploaded anywhere?
No. Counting happens entirely in your browser as you type. Nothing is sent to a server, stored, or logged — safe for confidential drafts and coursework.
Why does my count differ from Microsoft Word?
Usually by a handful of words, because Word applies slightly different rules to things like numbers with units, standalone symbols and text inside footnotes or text boxes. For an essay limit, a difference of a few words is not normally an issue.
How many pages is 1,000 words?
About four pages double-spaced, or two pages single-spaced, in 12pt Times New Roman with one-inch margins. Font and spacing change this considerably.
Do characters include spaces?
The tool shows both. "Characters" includes spaces and line breaks, which is what social platforms count. "No spaces" excludes all whitespace, which some academic limits use.
Related tools
Last reviewed September 4, 2026. Results are estimates for general information only.