How are words counted?

Words are counted by splitting text on whitespace boundaries. Hyphenated words like 'well-known' count as one word. Numbers and abbreviations each count as one word.

What is the reading time based on?

Reading time is calculated at 200 words per minute, which is the widely accepted average reading speed for adults reading English text on a screen.

How are sentences counted?

Sentences are counted by looking for periods, exclamation marks, and question marks followed by a space or end of text. Abbreviations like 'Dr.' or 'U.S.' may slightly affect the count.

Can I count words in a PDF or Word document?

This tool works with plain text. To count words in a PDF, first convert it to text using our PDF to JPG tool or copy the text manually. For Word documents, paste the content directly.

What word count do I need for a blog post?

Most SEO experts recommend 1,500-2,500 words for in-depth blog posts. Short-form posts of 300-600 words work well for news updates. Aim for the length that thoroughly covers your topic.

Is there a character or word limit?

No. You can paste text of any length. Very long texts (over 100,000 words) may cause a brief delay in counting.

Text Tools

Word Counter

Count words, characters, paragraphs, sentences, and reading time in real time for essays, blog posts, descriptions, and job application text.

Words

Characters

Characters without spaces

Sentences

Paragraphs

Reading time

Less than 1 min

Usage notes

Use a dedicated FAQ on this page for essay limits, social captions, and SEO copy length questions.
This tool works best as a browser-side live utility with no signup and no upload step.
Pair this page with guides about blog length, meta descriptions, and resume word counts.

Text Tools Category Character Counter Case Converter

How to Use This Tool

1Paste or type your text into the input area above.
2Word count, character count, sentence count, paragraph count, and estimated reading time update instantly as you type.
3Use the Copy button to copy your text, or Clear to start over.
4Reading time is estimated at 200 words per minute, the average adult reading speed.

Frequently Asked Questions

How are words counted?: Words are counted by splitting text on whitespace boundaries. Hyphenated words like 'well-known' count as one word. Numbers and abbreviations each count as one word.
What is the reading time based on?: Reading time is calculated at 200 words per minute, which is the widely accepted average reading speed for adults reading English text on a screen.
How are sentences counted?: Sentences are counted by looking for periods, exclamation marks, and question marks followed by a space or end of text. Abbreviations like 'Dr.' or 'U.S.' may slightly affect the count.
Can I count words in a PDF or Word document?: This tool works with plain text. To count words in a PDF, first convert it to text using our PDF to JPG tool or copy the text manually. For Word documents, paste the content directly.
What word count do I need for a blog post?: Most SEO experts recommend 1,500-2,500 words for in-depth blog posts. Short-form posts of 300-600 words work well for news updates. Aim for the length that thoroughly covers your topic.
Is there a character or word limit?: No. You can paste text of any length. Very long texts (over 100,000 words) may cause a brief delay in counting.

Word Counter

Usage notes

Related pages

How to Use This Tool

Frequently Asked Questions