Word & character counter
Paste or type text and get live counts — words, characters (with and without spaces), sentences, paragraphs and lines — plus estimated reading and speaking time. Nothing is uploaded; it all runs in your browser.
Open Word & character counter →What is the word & character counter?
A free, private counter that tallies your text live as you type or paste — words, characters with and without spaces, sentences, paragraphs and lines, plus estimated reading and speaking time. It all runs in your browser, nothing is uploaded, and your text is saved on your device so it's there when you come back.
How to use Word & character counter
- Type or paste your text — Drop your writing into the text box. Counting starts immediately — there's no button to press.
- Read the live counts — Watch the cards update as you edit: words, characters (with and without spaces), sentences, paragraphs and lines.
- Check the time estimates — See an estimated reading time (~225 words per minute) and speaking time (~130 words per minute) for the text.
- Clear when done — Use the clear action in the header to empty the box and start fresh whenever you need to.
Frequently asked questions
Is my text sent anywhere?
No. All counting happens in your browser, so your text never leaves your device. It's also saved locally so it's still there next time you open the tool.
How is a word counted?
A word is any run of non-space characters, so the count matches what most editors and assignment briefs expect.
How accurate is the reading time?
It's an estimate based on about 225 words per minute for reading and 130 for speaking — useful for pacing a talk or article, not an exact figure.
What counts as a sentence or paragraph?
Sentences are detected by full stops, question marks and exclamation marks; paragraphs are blocks of text separated by blank lines.
Does it work offline?
Yes. Once the page has loaded, the counter keeps working with no internet connection.
Tips
- Check the speaking-time estimate to keep a presentation or video script within its slot.
- Use 'characters (no spaces)' when a form or platform limits character count.
- Paste a draft to confirm it meets a word limit before submitting it.