This online word and character counter instantly counts words, characters, sentences, paragraphs and reading time. It runs locally in your browser, working privately without login or signup.
Word and Character Counter
Live counts for words, characters, spaces, sentences, lines, paragraphs, and reading time.
Do not get lost! Hit Ctrl+D (Windows) or Command+D (Mac) to bookmark this tool for instant access.
What Is a Word and Character Counter
A word and character counter is a simple tool that analyzes text and displays key metrics:
- Word count: number of words
- Character count: total characters with and without spaces
- Sentence count: number of sentences detected
- Paragraph count: number of paragraphs based on line breaks
- Reading time estimate: approximate time it would take an average reader
This is useful for writing within limits, editing for clarity, and analyzing text for SEO or academic purposes.
Why Use a Word and Character Counter
You need a counter when:
- Writing essays that must meet minimum word counts
- Preparing social media posts with maximum character limits
- Editing blog posts for SEO word count goals
- Checking readability and estimated reading time
- Analyzing scripts, code, or subtitles for length control
Instead of counting manually or guessing, this tool gives instant results.
Features of This Tool
- Instant word count as you type or paste
- Accurate character count with and without spaces
- Counts sentences and paragraphs
- Shows reading time estimate
- Works for long essays, books, or small snippets
- Supports mobile and desktop
- No data uploaded: runs locally in your browser
How to Use This Counter Step by Step
1. Paste or type your text into the input box
2. The tool calculates instantly as you type
3. See results for:
- Words
- Characters (with spaces)
- Characters (without spaces)
- Lines
- Sentences
- Paragraphs
- Reading time
4. Copy results if needed for assignments, posts, or reports
5. Click Clear to reset and start again
Example 1: Short Essay
Input:
The internet has changed how people learn, work, and communicate. Online tools save time and make knowledge accessible to everyone.
Results:
Words: 18
Characters (with spaces): 116
Characters (without spaces): 96
Sentences: 2
Paragraphs: 1
Reading time: ~5 seconds
Example 2: Tweet Length Check
Input:
Word counters are helpful for writers who need to stay within character limits on platforms like Twitter.
Results:
Words: 16
Characters (with spaces): 100
Characters (without spaces): 85
Sentences: 1
Paragraphs: 1
Reading time: ~5 seconds
This is perfect since Twitter allows 280 characters per post.
Example 3: Blog Paragraph
Input:
Learning to code is easier with modern tools. Word counters, syntax checkers, and formatters help students practice without setup. Developers can test snippets, debug faster, and focus on solving problems.
Results:
Words: 29
Characters (with spaces): 197
Characters (without spaces): 166
Sentences: 3
Paragraphs: 1
Reading time: ~10 second
Word Count Benchmarks
- Tweet: up to 280 characters
- SMS: 160 characters
- Meta description: 150–160 characters
- Blog posts: 800–2000 words for SEO
- Short story: 1500–7500 words
- Novel: 70,000–100,000 words
This tool helps you hit these targets precisely.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: What does this word and character counter do
A: It counts words, characters, lines, sentences, paragraphs, and reading time for any text.
Q: Does it include spaces in character count
A: Yes, it shows both counts: with spaces and without spaces.
Q: Can I use it for social media posts
A: Yes, it helps stay within character limits for Twitter, Instagram, and SMS.
Q: Does it work for long documents
A: Yes, you can paste large essays or articles and get instant results.
Q: Is my text safe
A: Yes, all calculations happen locally in your browser. Nothing is uploaded.
Q: What is reading time
A: An estimate based on average reading speed (about 200–250 words per minute).
Q: Can I use it on my phone
A: Yes, the tool is mobile-friendly and works on any device.
Thank You Note
If you made it this far, you probably really needed this tool. I hope it saved you time and maybe even a bit of frustration. I keep building new tools every week, some small and some surprisingly powerful. You can check out all our free tools here and make sure to bookmark CodeForGeek so you never lose us.
If you have an idea for improvement or something is not working right, just email me at [email protected]. I actually read those messages, and if your suggestion makes sense, I will add it.
Thanks for sticking around till the end. Now go try out your result before you forget why you came here.
