Tools
Word Counter
Count words, characters, sentences and paragraphs as you type, with estimated reading and speaking time. Your text stays in your browser.
How to use this tool
- Paste or type your text into the box.
- Counts update immediately as you type.
- Use the case buttons to convert the text, or copy it back once you are done.
Formula
Reading time = words ÷ 238 · Speaking time = words ÷ 140
- 238
- average adult silent reading speed in words per minute
- 140
- typical speaking pace in words per minute
Worked example
An article of 1,200 words.
- Reading time1,200 ÷ 238 ≈ 5.0 minutes
- Speaking time1,200 ÷ 140 ≈ 8.6 minutes
About five minutes to read silently, or roughly nine minutes to read aloud.
Where character limits matter
Many platforms enforce limits in characters rather than words. A meta description is usually kept under about 160 characters, a page title under about 60, and SMS messages break at 160 characters for plain text. Academic abstracts and application forms often specify a word count instead.
Both counts are shown, with and without spaces, because form instructions differ on which they mean.
How reading time is estimated
Reading time uses 238 words per minute, which is close to the average silent reading speed for adults in research on non-fiction prose. Speaking time uses 140 words per minute, a typical presentation pace.
Both are averages. Technical material with formulas or unfamiliar terms reads more slowly, and a rehearsed speaker may run faster.
What counts as a word
A word here is a run of letters or digits, allowing internal apostrophes and hyphens, so 'don't' and 'well-known' each count as one. Sentences are counted at full stops, question marks, exclamation marks and the Devanagari danda, so Hindi text is counted correctly too.
Things to keep in mind
- Emoji and other characters outside the basic range are counted as single characters.
- Text is never uploaded, saved or shared; it exists only in your browser tab.
Frequently asked questions
Does the character count include spaces?
Both figures are shown. Check whether the form you are filling counts spaces, as the two numbers can differ considerably.
Is my text sent anywhere?
No. Counting happens entirely in your browser using JavaScript. The text is not transmitted to any server, saved, or shared, which is why the tool works even if you go offline after the page loads.
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