How to use the Word & Character Counter
- Paste or type text.
- Review live counts.
- Copy the text if needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are spaces counted?
Character count includes spaces.
How is reading time estimated?
The tool uses a configurable words-per-minute estimate.
Is data uploaded?
No.
Using word and character counts
Paste or type your text to see words, characters and an estimated reading time. Counts update from what you enter, so you can trim an essay to a limit or check a description before publishing.
Handy benchmarks: a meta description of about 120 to 160 characters, a headline of 50 to 60 characters, a typical blog post of 800 to 2,000 words, and a university essay with a stated limit that often counts words excluding references. Always check which rule your platform uses, as some count spaces and others do not.
Limits: words are counted by spacing, so hyphenated terms and URLs count as one word. Reading time assumes an average adult pace and varies by reader and topic. Text stays in your browser.