Word Counter
Paste or type below — every count updates live. Nothing you write leaves your browser.
Words
0
Characters
0
Characters (no spaces)
0
Sentences
0
Paragraphs
0
Reading time
0 min
Speaking time
0 min
Avg. word length
—
Length targets worth knowing
| Content | Typical target |
|---|---|
| Tweet/X post | 280 characters |
| Meta description | 120–158 characters |
| College application essay | 250–650 words |
| Standard essay page (double-spaced) | ~250–300 words |
| Blog post that ranks | 1,000–2,000+ words |
| 5-minute speech | ~650–750 words |
| Novel | 70,000–100,000 words |
How the time estimates work
Reading time assumes 225 words per minute — the average adult silent-reading speed for non-technical text. Speaking time uses 140 wpm, a comfortable presentation pace (conversational speech runs faster, ~160–180 wpm, but presenting slower keeps audiences with you). For a timed speech, rehearse at least once with a clock: nerves reliably speed people up 10–15%.
Hitting a word count honestly
Under the limit? Add evidence and examples, not adjectives. Over it? Cut redundant qualifiers ("very", "really", "in order to"), merge sentences that repeat a subject, and delete your weakest paragraph — every essay has one.
Frequently asked questions
How does it decide what counts as a word?
Any run of characters separated by whitespace. Hyphenated compounds ("well-known") count as one word; "don't" counts as one. This matches how word processors count.
Is my text stored anywhere?
No — counting happens entirely in your browser and the text vanishes when you close the page. Safe for confidential drafts.
Do teachers count words the same way?
Word processors (Word, Google Docs) count nearly identically to this tool — differences are rare and tiny (usually around em-dashes or slashes). If a limit is strict, the submission system's own counter is the final authority.