How to count the words in your text
Type or paste your text into the box. The counter updates as you type and shows words, characters with and without spaces, sentences, paragraphs and estimated reading time.
It's useful for essays with a word minimum or maximum, college application and scholarship essays, product descriptions and social media posts with character limits.
How is reading time calculated?
We use an average of 238 words per minute for silent reading and 140 words per minute for speaking aloud, as in a presentation or speech. If you're presenting, "Speaking time" is the one to watch.
Common character limits
| Where | Limit |
|---|---|
| X (Twitter) post, free account | 280 characters |
| Meta description shown by Google | About 155–160 characters |
| Instagram caption | 2,200 characters |
| LinkedIn post | 3,000 characters |
Platforms change their limits from time to time. Use these as a guide.
Your text stays private
Counting happens inside your browser. We don't store or send anything you type.
Frequently asked questions
How many words is one page?
A single-spaced page in 12-point font is about 500 words; double-spaced, about 250. It depends on the font and margins.
Do numbers count as words?
Yes. Like Microsoft Word and Google Docs, numbers are counted as words.
Does it count the same as Microsoft Word?
Results are very close. They can differ by a word or two around hyphens and symbols, since each program handles them differently.
Do you save my text?
No. Counting happens in your browser and your text is never sent to a server.