Word & Character Counter
Count the words in your text.
How to use it
- Type or paste your text into the box above.
- Your word count, character count, sentence count, and paragraph count update instantly.
- Use the "Copy stats" button to copy the results, or keep writing — the count follows along.
Examples and use cases
Meeting an essay word limit
Paste your draft to check if you are within the required word count before submitting.
Writing social media posts
Track character count to stay within platform limits for Twitter/X, LinkedIn, or Instagram captions.
Estimating reading time
Use the word count to estimate how long a piece will take to read — roughly 200 to 250 words per minute for average readers.
Freelance invoicing
Count words in a finished piece when billing per word or verifying a client's word count requirement.
Checking SEO content length
Verify that a blog post or landing page meets the target word count for search performance.
Frequently asked questions
- How does Wordshed count words?
- Words are counted by splitting your text on whitespace boundaries. Hyphenated words like "well-known" count as one word. Numbers count as words when separated by spaces.
- Does this count characters with or without spaces?
- Both. The tool shows total characters (including spaces) and characters without spaces, so you can use whichever your requirement calls for.
- Is my text stored or sent anywhere?
- No. The word counter runs entirely in your browser using JavaScript. Your text never leaves your device — nothing is sent to any server.
- How are sentences counted?
- Sentences are counted by identifying text ending with a period, question mark, or exclamation point. Abbreviations like "Dr." or "U.S." may occasionally cause a slight overcount.
- How are paragraphs counted?
- A paragraph is counted each time there is a block of text separated by one or more blank lines. A single unbroken block of text counts as one paragraph.
- What is the reading time based on?
- Reading time is estimated at 238 words per minute, which is the average silent reading speed for adults reading English prose. Actual reading speed varies by reader and content complexity.
- Can I count words in a PDF or Word document?
- Not directly. Copy the text from your document and paste it into the tool. The counter works with any plain text you can paste.
- Is there a word limit for this tool?
- No hard limit. The counter handles very large texts comfortably because it runs in your browser. Performance depends on your device, but most modern browsers handle hundreds of thousands of words without issue.
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About this tool
Word counting is one of the most common small tasks in writing. Students check essay limits, writers track progress, editors verify requirements, and content teams audit page length. It should be instant and obvious — no installs, no accounts, no overhead.
The Wordshed word counter is built to do one job well. It updates as you type, shows every metric you are likely to need, and processes everything locally in your browser. It is part of a growing collection of small text tools at Wordshed, each built with the same principles: fast, private, and focused on the task.