Free Word Counter Online
Count words, characters, sentences, and paragraphs. Estimate reading time live as you type.
What is a word counter?
A word counter automatically counts the number of words, characters, sentences, and paragraphs in a block of text. ProseTool's free word counter works live as you type — no button to press, no page to reload.
Writers use word counters to meet requirements for essays, articles, blog posts, and social media posts. Knowing your word count helps you stay within limits for academic submissions, SEO content targets, and publishing guidelines.
How to use this word counter
- Click inside the text box above.
- Type or paste your text — counts update instantly.
- Read your stats: words, characters, sentences, paragraphs, and estimated reading time.
- Use "Copy stats" to copy a summary to your clipboard.
Understanding your results
Words
The total number of individual words separated by spaces and punctuation. This is the most commonly referenced metric for writing tasks.
Characters (with and without spaces)
Character count matters most for social media. Twitter/X allows 280 characters; SMS texts are 160 characters.
Reading time
Calculated at 238 words per minute — the average adult reading speed. Speaking time uses 130 words per minute, useful for presentations and podcasts.
Frequently asked questions
Does ProseTool save my text?
No. All counting happens in your browser using JavaScript. Your text is never sent to our servers. When you close the tab, your text is gone.
Is there a word or character limit?
No. You can paste documents of any length — books, essays, articles. The counter handles everything in-browser.
How many words should a blog post be?
SEO research suggests 1,500–2,500 words for informational posts. Short posts (500–800 words) work for news and updates. Long-form content (3,000+ words) tends to rank well for competitive keywords.
How many words is a 5-minute speech?
At an average speaking pace of 130 words per minute, a 5-minute speech is approximately 650 words. Use the "Speak time" stat above to calibrate your speech length.
How is reading time calculated?
Reading time is estimated at 238 words per minute, which is the average adult silent reading speed based on published research.