utilizeWhat does this word count tool measure?
As you type or paste text, the tool counts words (sequences of non-whitespace characters separated by spaces), total characters including spaces, characters excluding spaces, sentences (ending in . ! or ?), paragraphs (blocks separated by blank lines), and estimated reading time based on an average adult reading speed of 200 words per minute.
When would you use this?
- Writing essays and academic papers — Check you have hit the minimum word count or stayed within the maximum before submitting.
- Social media posts — Twitter/X limits posts to 280 characters. LinkedIn posts perform best under 1300 characters. Use the character limit bar to track exactly where you are.
- SEO content — Blog posts targeting competitive keywords typically need 1500-3000 words. Track your count as you write.
- Job applications and cover letters — Many application portals impose character limits on text fields. Paste your text here to check before submitting.
- Email subject lines — Subject lines over 60 characters get truncated on mobile. Use the character limit to keep subject lines tight.
- Book and article word counts — Track progress toward a manuscript target or check an article length before pitching to a publication.
Reading time estimates
Reading time is calculated at 200 words per minute, which is a commonly cited average for adult reading comprehension. Skimming is faster (300-700 wpm) and careful reading slower (100-150 wpm), so treat the estimate as a rough guide. For a 5-minute read, aim for around 1000 words.
Does the tool save my text?
No — everything stays in your browser. Your text is never sent to a server and disappears when you close or refresh the page.
How are words counted?
Words are counted as sequences of characters separated by whitespace. Hyphenated words (e.g. "well-known") count as one word. Numbers count as words. This matches how most academic institutions and publishing platforms count words.
What is the character limit bar for?
Enter a target character limit (e.g. 280 for Twitter, 160 for an SMS) and the bar shows how close you are. It turns orange when you approach 80% and red when you exceed the limit.
Is there a maximum text length?
No — the tool handles text of any length. Very long texts (entire books) may take a moment to analyse but there is no cap.