Count words, characters, sentences and paragraphs. Check reading time and keyword density.
A word counter analyses pasted text and instantly returns the word count, character count, sentence count, and estimated reading time — the same statistics a word processor shows, without needing to open one. It's useful anywhere there's a limit to hit: an assignment word count, a social media character limit, a meta description length, or just checking how long a piece of writing will take to read.
This tool also counts sentences (splitting on sentence-ending punctuation) and paragraphs, and includes a keyword density analyser that surfaces the most frequently used words — handy for SEO writers checking a draft isn't over-repeating a target term.
| Platform | Limit | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| X (Twitter) | 280 characters | URLs count as 23 characters regardless of length |
| SMS | 160 characters | Above 160: sent as multiple messages; emojis reduce to 70 chars |
| Instagram caption | 2,200 characters | First 125 characters shown before 'more' truncation |
| LinkedIn headline | 220 characters | First 40-60 shown in search results |
| Google meta description | ~155-160 characters | Longer descriptions are truncated in search results |
| University essay (typical) | 1,000-5,000 words | Vary by subject — check your assignment brief |
| Who | Common Use |
|---|---|
| 🎓 Students | Check an essay or assignment meets a word count requirement |
| ✍️ Writers & bloggers | Track article length and estimated reading time |
| 📈 SEO & content writers | Check keyword density to avoid over-optimised, spammy-looking content |
| 📱 Social media managers | Fit captions and posts within platform character limits |
| 📧 Marketers | Check a meta description or subject line fits its display limit |
This word counter shows the word count, character count (with and without spaces), sentences, paragraphs and estimated reading time as you type. Use the character counter figure for limits such as meta descriptions, captions, SMS and forms, and the word count for essays and articles.
Keyword density is how often a word appears compared with the total: density = (times the word appears ÷ total words) × 100. A word used 10 times in a 500-word text has a density of 2%. Use it to spot over-repeated words, not as a target to hit. Write for readers first.
Related guides: how many pages is 1000 words, how long it takes to write 1000 words and how to check word count in Google Docs, Word and Pages.
How do I count characters in my text?
Paste or type your text above. The character count updates live, and shows the count with and without spaces.
How is keyword density calculated?
Divide the number of times a word appears by the total word count and multiply by 100. For example, 10 uses in 500 words is 2%.
How does the word counter count words?
Words are counted by splitting text on spaces and punctuation — any continuous sequence of non-space characters is counted as one word. 'hello-world' counts as one word; 'hello world' counts as two. Hyphenated words are counted as one word, consistent with standard word processing software.
What reading time does 1,000 words take?
At 200-240 words per minute (average adult reading speed), 1,000 words takes approximately 4-5 minutes. Blog posts of 1,500-2,500 words take 6-10 minutes. The tool calculates reading time based on your specific word count, displayed at the 200 WPM average speed.
How does the sentence counter work?
The tool splits text on sentence-ending punctuation — periods, exclamation marks, and question marks — and counts each non-empty segment as one sentence. Abbreviations with periods (like "e.g." or "Dr.") can occasionally be counted as sentence breaks, so treat the count as a close estimate rather than an exact figure for heavily abbreviated text.
How many words are in a typical page?
As a rough guide, one single-spaced page is about 500 words, and one double-spaced page is about 250 words, at a standard 12pt font. Paste your text here to get an exact word count rather than relying on the page-based estimate.
What counts as a word for the word count?
Any continuous sequence of non-space characters. Numbers, abbreviations, and hyphenated terms (like "well-known") each count as one word, matching how word processors like Microsoft Word count.
Is my text uploaded or stored anywhere?
No. All counting and analysis happens locally in your browser as you type — nothing is sent to a server, logged, or saved, so it's safe to paste confidential drafts or assignments.