Free Online Word Counter — Count Words, Characters & More
Get instant word counts and comprehensive text statistics with our free word counter tool. Whether you're writing an essay, crafting social media posts, or optimizing content for SEO, this tool provides real-time metrics including word count, character count, sentence count, paragraph count, reading time, and speaking time—all calculated instantly as you type.
No buttons to click, no waiting for results. Simply paste your text or start typing, and watch the statistics update in real-time. The tool also identifies your most frequently used words, helping writers spot repetition and improve vocabulary diversity.
What This Word Counter Measures
| Metric | How It's Calculated | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Words | Sequences separated by whitespace | Essay requirements, content length goals |
| Characters | All characters including spaces | Social media limits (Twitter, meta descriptions) |
| Characters (no spaces) | Letters, numbers, punctuation only | SMS billing, some platform limits |
| Sentences | Segments ending in . ! or ? | Readability analysis, writing style |
| Paragraphs | Text blocks separated by blank lines | Document structure, formatting |
| Reading Time | Words ÷ 238 (avg reading speed) | Blog posts, article length planning |
| Speaking Time | Words ÷ 150 (avg speaking rate) | Speeches, presentations, podcasts |
Common Word Count Requirements
Different writing contexts have different length expectations. Use this reference to ensure your content meets requirements:
📚 Academic Writing
- High school essay: 300–1,000
- College essay: 1,500–5,000
- Master's thesis: 15,000–50,000
- PhD dissertation: 70,000–100,000
📝 Blog & Content
- Short blog post: 300–600
- Standard article: 1,000–1,500
- Long-form content: 2,000–3,000
- Pillar/cornerstone: 3,000–10,000
📖 Publishing
- Short story: 1,000–7,500
- Novella: 17,500–40,000
- Novel: 70,000–100,000
- Epic/saga: 100,000+
Social Media & Platform Character Limits
Many platforms enforce strict character limits. Monitor your count to avoid truncation:
Who Uses Word Counters?
Students
Meeting essay and assignment word limits
Writers & Bloggers
Hitting content length targets for SEO
Social Media Managers
Staying within platform character limits
Copywriters
Crafting concise ad copy and headlines
Tips for Managing Word Count
To Increase Word Count
- • Add supporting examples and evidence
- • Expand on key arguments
- • Include relevant quotes
- • Address counterarguments
To Reduce Word Count
- • Remove redundant phrases
- • Use active voice
- • Cut filler words (very, really, just)
- • Combine short sentences