How the word counter works
Type or paste your text into the box. The counts update as you type, with no button to press. Your text is saved in your own browser, so it's still there if you accidentally close the tab, and it's never uploaded anywhere.
What each number means
- Words: groups of letters or numbers. Hyphenated words like well-known and contractions like don't count as one word.
- Characters: every letter, number, space and symbol. Use this for limits on social posts, text messages and form fields.
- Reading time: based on an average silent reading speed of about 238 words per minute.
- Speaking time: based on about 140 words per minute, a comfortable pace for speeches and presentations.
- Most-used words: your most repeated words, ignoring common ones like the and and. Handy for spotting overused words or checking keywords.
Common length limits
- College application essays: often 250–650 words
- A post on X (Twitter): 280 characters for standard accounts
- Meta descriptions for search results: about 150–160 characters
- A text message (SMS): 160 characters per message
Frequently asked questions
Is my text private?
Yes. All counting happens in your browser. The text is stored only on your device so it survives a refresh, and Clear removes it.
How long is a 1,000-word essay?
About 4 minutes to read silently, about 7 minutes to say out loud, and roughly 2 pages single-spaced or 4 pages double-spaced.
Does it count numbers as words?
Yes. A number like 2026 counts as one word, the same as most word processors.