How to use the word counter
Paste your text into the box or start typing. The panel beside it shows the word count in large type, with characters, sentences, paragraphs, unique words, average word length, and estimated reading and speaking time underneath. Nothing needs to be clicked; every number updates as you write.
If you are writing to a length, enter a number in Word goal. A progress bar shows how close you are and how many words are left, and it turns red if you go over. This is handy for essays with a word limit, guest posts with a minimum length, or product descriptions that must stay short.
How words are counted
A word is any group of characters separated by a space or line break that contains at least one letter or number. This is the same basic rule Microsoft Word and Google Docs use, so your count here should match theirs closely. A few details are worth knowing:
- Hyphenated words such as well-known count as one word.
- Contractions such as don't and it's count as one word.
- Numbers such as 2026 or 3.5 count as words.
- Standalone symbols, like a dash between spaces or a bullet character, are not counted.
- Chinese and Japanese text is counted per character, since those languages don't use spaces between words.
Word processors can still differ by a word or two on URLs, email addresses and unusual punctuation, so if a submission portal enforces a strict limit, leave yourself a small margin.
What the other numbers mean
Characters counts every visible character, space and line break. An emoji or an accented letter counts as one character, even when it is stored as several code points. Characters without spaces removes all whitespace, which some translation agencies and publishers use for pricing. Sentences ends at a full stop, question mark or exclamation mark, and ignores common abbreviations like Dr. and e.g. Paragraphs counts each non-empty line, the same way Word does. Unique words tells you how varied your vocabulary is.
Reading time assumes 238 words per minute, the average silent reading speed for adults reading non-fiction. Speaking time assumes 140 words per minute, a comfortable pace for a talk or voiceover. For more control over either, use the Reading Time Calculator or the Speaking Time Calculator.
Typical word counts
| Type of writing | Usual length |
|---|---|
| Tweet or short social post | 20 to 50 words |
| Product description | 50 to 300 words |
| College application essay | 250 to 650 words |
| News article | 400 to 800 words |
| Blog post or guide | 1,000 to 2,500 words |
| Short story | 1,000 to 7,500 words |
| Novel | 70,000 to 100,000 words |
For blog posts, there is no word count that ranks best. Write as much as the topic needs and stop. A focused 800-word answer can outrank a padded 3,000-word article.
Frequently asked questions
Is this word counter accurate compared to Microsoft Word?
Yes, for normal text the counts match. Both count whitespace-separated words and treat hyphenated words and contractions as one word. Small differences can appear with URLs, email addresses and special punctuation.
Does it count words in other languages?
Yes. Any language that separates words with spaces, including Urdu, Arabic, Hindi, Spanish and Russian, is counted normally. Chinese and Japanese are counted one character per word because they don't use spaces.
Is my text saved or uploaded?
No. The counting happens in your browser. Your text is never sent to a server, so it is safe to use with private or unpublished writing.
How many pages is 1,000 words?
About two pages single-spaced or four pages double-spaced, using a 12-point font and standard margins. Font, spacing and headings can change this a lot.
Why is my paragraph count higher than expected?
Every non-empty line counts as a paragraph, which matches Microsoft Word. If your text has hard line breaks inside paragraphs, such as text copied from a PDF, use the Paragraph Counter and choose Blank lines only.
Last updated