Word Counter
Paste or type your text. Counts update as you go.
How to use this tool
- Type or paste your text into the box.
- Read the counts above it. They update with every keystroke.
- Use the reading and speaking times to check an article, speech or caption.
How it works
Words are runs of characters separated by spaces or line breaks. Sentences end at a full stop, question mark or exclamation mark. Paragraphs are blocks separated by a blank line.
Reading time assumes about 238 words per minute, and speaking time about 150 words per minute. Your own pace will differ.
Example. 1,000 words takes about 4 minutes 12 seconds to read and about 6 minutes 40 seconds to say aloud.
Common length limits
Limits change, so check the platform before you publish. These are the usual targets:
- Post on X: 280 characters for standard accounts.
- Page title for search results: about 60 characters.
- Meta description: about 150 to 160 characters.
- Instagram caption: up to 2,200 characters.
- One SMS segment: 160 characters using the basic character set.
Frequently asked questions
How many words is a page?
A single-spaced page is roughly 500 words, and a double-spaced page about 250. It depends on font size and margins.
Does it count hyphenated words as one?
Yes. Anything joined without a space, such as well-known, counts as one word.
Is my text uploaded?
No. Counting happens in your browser and the text is never sent anywhere.
Do emoji count as one character?
Yes. Each emoji or symbol counts as a single character in the total.
Why does my platform count a different number?
Some platforms count links, hashtags or line breaks differently. Check the limit on the platform itself for posts that must fit.