Word and character counter
Count words, characters, sentences and paragraphs as you type, with reading time, page estimates and a word goal.
Your text stays in this browser. It’s never uploaded or saved anywhere else.
How words and characters are counted
Words are runs of letters or numbers separated by spaces or punctuation. Hyphenated words (well-known), contractions (don’t) and numbers with decimals (3.14) each count as one word, the same way Microsoft Word and Google Docs count them. Symbols on their own, like & or —, don’t count.
Characters include every letter, number, punctuation mark and space. Characters without spaces leave out spaces, tabs and line breaks. Some applications and scholarship forms limit characters with spaces, others without, so check which one your limit means.
Sentences end with a period, question mark, exclamation point or line break. Abbreviations such as “Dr.” can add an extra sentence, so treat that number as an estimate.
Reading and speaking time assume about 238 words per minute for silent reading and 130 for a presentation. Pages assume 12-point Times New Roman with 1-inch margins: about 500 words single-spaced and 250 double-spaced.
Common length requirements
Typical limits college students run into: the Common App personal essay allows 250–650 words; many scholarship essays allow 250–500 words; abstracts for lab reports and research papers usually run 150–250 words; discussion posts are often 250–300 words; and a “five-page paper” double-spaced is about 1,250 words. Set a word goal above to see how close you are.
Frequently asked questions
Is my essay saved or uploaded?
No. The counting happens in your browser. Your text is kept only in this browser’s local storage so it’s still there if you refresh, and you can remove it with Clear.
Why is my count different from Word or Google Docs?
Usually by a word or two, because programs treat symbols, URLs and dashes differently. For example, “pre- and post-test” or a spaced dash ( – ) can count differently. Use the count your instructor’s software uses when a limit is strict.
Does the word count include the title and references?
Only if you paste them. Most instructors don’t count the title page, references or appendices toward a word limit, so paste just the body of your paper to check it.
How many words is a page?
About 500 words single-spaced and 250 words double-spaced in 12-point Times New Roman. Larger fonts, headings and short paragraphs make it fewer.