Word Counter
Words, characters, sentences, paragraphs and reading time
About this tool
This free word counter counts words, characters, sentences, paragraphs, and lines in any text you paste or type. It also estimates reading time at a typical adult reading speed of 225 words per minute, and speaking time at 150 words per minute — useful for timed presentations and speeches. Everything runs in your browser; your text is never sent to any server.
Writers use word counters to hit targets: academic essays typically require a minimum word count, blog posts benefit from being 1,000–2,500 words for SEO purposes, social media posts must stay under platform character limits, and novels are typically 70,000–100,000 words. Knowing your count in real time removes the guesswork from writing to specification.
The tool counts words by splitting on whitespace, so it handles English and other space-separated languages correctly. Hyphenated words (like "mother-in-law") count as one word. Numbers count as words. Character count is given both with and without spaces (important because different platforms — Twitter, LinkedIn, SMS — count characters differently). The character counter companion tool gives additional platform-specific character limits.
Reading time estimates are based on the typical adult reading speed of 200–250 words per minute for prose. Technical content, academic text, and unfamiliar subject matter typically slow reading speed to 100–150 wpm. Casual skimming can reach 400+ wpm. The estimates here are ballpark figures — adjust them for your audience and content type.
Frequently asked questions
How many pages is 1,000 words?
About 2 pages single-spaced or 4 pages double-spaced, using 12pt Times New Roman with 1-inch margins. A single-spaced page holds roughly 500 words and a double-spaced page roughly 250.
How long does it take to read 1,000 words?
About 4 to 5 minutes at a typical adult reading speed of 200–250 words per minute. Dense technical or academic material is slower, around 6 to 10 minutes, while skimming can cut it to 2 minutes.
How long does it take to speak 1,000 words?
Roughly 6 to 7 minutes at a normal presentation pace of 150 words per minute. Slow, deliberate delivery runs closer to 100 wpm (10 minutes), and fast conversational speech can reach 180 wpm.
Does this word counter count hyphenated words as one word?
Yes. Words are counted by splitting on whitespace, so 'mother-in-law' counts as one word. Numbers also count as words, and multiple consecutive spaces do not inflate the count.
Is my text uploaded anywhere when I use this tool?
No. All counting happens in your browser using JavaScript. Your text is never sent to a server, never stored, and never logged. You can disconnect from the internet after the page loads and the counter still works.
What is the difference between characters with and without spaces?
Characters with spaces counts every keystroke including the space bar; characters without spaces counts only visible characters. It matters because platforms differ: Twitter/X and SMS count spaces toward the limit, while some academic and job-application forms do not.