Paste or type your text
Counting happens in your browser. Your text is never sent or saved.
What the word counter counts
Paste or type in the box and the numbers change right away. Your text is not sent anywhere or saved. The big number is the word count, and the character count sits right below.
| Measure | How it is counted | Example: "Hello, world!" |
|---|---|---|
| Words | Groups of characters separated by spaces that contain a letter or a number | 2 |
| Characters | Every visible character, including spaces and line breaks | 13 |
| Characters without spaces | Everything except spaces, tabs, and line breaks | 12 |
| Sentences | Stretches of text that end in a period, exclamation point, question mark, or ellipsis | 1 |
Lines count every line break, blank ones included. Paragraphs are blocks of text separated by at least one blank line. A dash with spaces around it is not a word, because it has no letter or number.
Emoji and accented letters count as one
The tool counts what the eye sees as a single character. A letter with a combined accent counts once, and so does a compound emoji such as a family or a thumbs-up with a skin tone.
Some platforms count differently. A tool that counts UTF-16 units, for example, can treat one emoji as 2 or more. When a limit is strict, leave yourself some room.
Character limits worth checking
| Use | Limit | Note |
|---|---|---|
| X and Threads (post) | 280 characters | The bar uses a simple count. Links and emojis can count differently on the platform |
| SMS (one message) | 160 characters | With characters outside the GSM alphabet, such as some accents, the limit drops to 70 |
| Meta description (Google) | 150 to 160 characters | Google usually cuts off the rest in search results |
Reading time and speaking time
The rates of 200 and 130 words per minute are rough averages for silent reading and for speaking at a normal pace. Real times depend on the reader and the topic. For a speech or a video script, read a paragraph out loud with a timer and adjust.
To change the capitalization of your text after you count it, use the case converter. Need dummy text to test a layout? Try the lorem ipsum generator.
Frequently asked questions
How do I count words in a text online?
Paste the text into the box. The word count shows up instantly, along with characters, sentences, lines, and paragraphs, and nothing is uploaded to a server.
Do spaces count as characters?
Yes, in the main character count. The tool also shows characters without spaces, which leaves out spaces, tabs, and line breaks.
How many characters can I fit in a post on X?
A post is limited to 280 characters. The progress bar shows how many you have left or how far you are over.
How long should a meta description be?
Aim for 150 to 160 characters. Google tends to cut off anything longer in the search results.
Does an emoji count as one character?
Yes. The tool counts visible characters, so emojis and accented letters count once each.
Is the text I paste saved or sent anywhere?
No. All counting happens in your browser, and the text is never sent, saved, or logged.
Sources and method
Standard public-domain formulas. Every calculation is checked against independent numeric tests before it goes live.