Free online word counter

The counter treats each group of non-whitespace characters as one word. That means punctuation attached to a word stays with it, and a hyphenated term without spaces counts as one word. A line break or any other whitespace separates words.

For example, “A quick, well-made draft.” contains four words with this counting method: A, quick,, well-made, and draft. Different apps may count hyphenated terms differently, so use the same counter as your target when checking a strict limit.

Characters includes spaces and punctuation. Characters without whitespace excludes spaces, tabs, and line breaks. Sentences are non-empty text segments separated by periods, exclamation marks, or question marks. Paragraphs are separated by blank lines; a non-empty passage without a blank line counts as one paragraph.

To estimate reading time and adjust the reading speed, use the separate Reading Time Calculator.

Paste the complete text, including its headings and notes if those count toward your assignment or publishing limit. Compare the live total with the limit from your brief, then edit and recheck. The counter updates immediately; Copy and Download export the statistics summary rather than a copy of the passage.

• For an essay, check whether the brief includes footnotes, references, or headings.
• For a social post, check the platform’s current limit separately; limits can change.
• For a speech, use the Reading Time Calculator as a starting point and rehearse aloud.