About this tool
Whether you are hitting an essay target, trimming a meta description to 155 characters, or estimating how long a speech runs, you need counts you can trust at a glance. This word counter updates live as you type or paste: words, characters with and without spaces, sentences, paragraphs, and average word length. Reading time uses the standard 200-words-per-minute adult rate, and a speaking-time estimate at 130 words per minute helps with presentations and voiceovers — both shown in minutes and seconds. A small frequency panel surfaces your most-used words, which quietly reveals repetition problems in drafts. The counter treats hyphenated compounds as one word, handles punctuation edge cases sensibly, and works on very long documents without lag. Because the analysis happens entirely in your browser, unpublished manuscripts and confidential documents are never transmitted anywhere. There is nothing to configure and nothing between you and the numbers: open the page, paste, and know exactly where your text stands.
How to use Word Counter
- Type or paste your text into the box.
- Read the live counts: words, characters, sentences, paragraphs.
- Check reading and speaking time estimates below.
- Glance at the top-words panel to spot overused terms.
Frequently asked questions
How is reading time calculated?
At 200 words per minute, the average adult silent-reading rate for English prose.
And speaking time?
At 130 words per minute, a typical comfortable presentation pace.
Do hyphenated words count as one word?
Yes. Compounds like state-of-the-art count as a single word, matching most style guides.
Is my text sent to a server?
No. Counting happens locally in your browser as you type; nothing is transmitted or stored.