Word Counter: Count Words, Characters and Text Length
A word counter helps estimate text length for a draft or check a stated word limit. Paste the text, review the displayed counts and confirm how the destination defines a word.
Check the length of a passage
- Paste or type the passage into the text field.
- Read the displayed word and character counts.
- Edit the passage and check the totals again.
- Review hyphenated words, numbers and punctuation if the limit is strict.
- Confirm the final count in the submission platform when its rules matter.
What counts as a word
Applications can treat hyphenated terms, contractions, symbols and numbers differently. A general counter provides a useful estimate, but the submission system may apply its own rules.
Use counts to improve clarity
A target word count is a constraint, not a measure of quality. Keep the information readers need and remove repetition rather than adding filler.
Words and characters
The tool shows the number of words and the number of characters in the text you paste. Words are found with the word rules of your browser, so a hyphenated word, a number with a decimal point or a contraction is counted in the way your browser reads it, and characters are counted as visible symbols, so an accented letter or an emoji counts once. Edit the text and press the button again to see the new totals.
Common limits
Essays and assignments often ask for a number of words, an application form may allow a short answer of 250 words and a search result usually shows a title of about 60 characters and a description of about 155. A post on X is limited to 280 characters for most accounts. Check the limit of the exact place where you will paste the text.
Getting a number you can trust
A general counter may not count exactly as a school, a publisher or a form does, and some systems include or leave out headings, references and footnotes. Paste only the part that should be counted, and if the limit is strict, leave a small margin and check the final count in the real system. Cutting words is easier when you remove repeated points than when you remove facts.
Frequently asked questions
How do I count the words in my text?
Paste or type your text into the box and press Count. The result shows the number of words. Your text stays in your browser and is not uploaded.
Why does another app show a different count?
Word-boundary rules vary for hyphens, contractions, symbols and punctuation. Follow the platform that will receive the text.
Does a word count measure reading time?
No. Reading time also depends on reading pace, language and content difficulty.
Why does another program show a different word count?
Programs treat hyphens, numbers, symbols and line breaks in different ways. Use the destination's own count for a strict limit.
Does it count spaces as characters?
The tool shows the number of characters in the text. Use Character Counter to see counts with and without spaces.
Is my text uploaded?
No. The text stays in your browser.
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