Word Counter
Paste or type your text below. Words, characters, sentences, and paragraphs are counted instantly — free, with no signup.
Results update automatically as you type.
How the word counter works
Type or paste any text into the box above and the counter updates in real time. Words are detected by whitespace separation; sentences by standard end punctuation (. ! ? …); paragraphs by blank lines. Reading time assumes an average speed of 200 words per minute.
Counting rules
Words with apostrophes or hyphens — like don't or well-known — count as a single word. A standalone emoji counts as one word. Character totals count what you see: an emoji such as 👨👩👧👦 counts as one character, not several. Decimal numbers like 3.14 never split a sentence in two.
When to use it
- Essays and assignments — check you meet a word count requirement before submitting.
- Social media posts — keep captions tight with the character count.
- Articles and reports — track length and estimate reading time for your audience.
Is it accurate?
For standard prose, yes. Hyphenated words and numbers with decimals are counted by simple rules, so highly technical text may differ slightly from a word processor's count. For graded work, treat the result as a close guide rather than an official count.