How to Check Word Count
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Count words, characters, sentences, paragraphs, and estimated reading time instantly. No paste limits, no signup, works entirely in your browser.
Open Word CounterWhat our word counter measures
Paste your text and instantly see words, characters (with and without spaces), sentences, paragraphs, and estimated reading and speaking time. The count updates live as you type — no need to click a button.
Word and character limits by platform
Different platforms and document types have different length requirements. Use the word counter to ensure your content meets the limit before submitting.
| Platform / Type | Limit | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Twitter / X post | 280 characters | Includes spaces; URLs count as 23 characters |
| LinkedIn post | 3,000 characters | First 210 show before 'see more' |
| Meta description | 155–160 characters | Google truncates longer descriptions in search results |
| Common essay (school) | 500–5,000 words | Typical range; check your specific assignment |
| Blog post (SEO) | 1,500–2,500 words | Longer posts tend to rank better for competitive keywords |
| Short story | 1,000–7,500 words | Most short story competitions specify an upper limit |
Frequently asked questions
Does word count include punctuation?
No. Word count counts words separated by spaces. Punctuation attached to a word (like a comma or period) is counted as part of that word, not separately. Character count includes all characters including punctuation and spaces.
What's the difference between character count with and without spaces?
Character count with spaces counts every character including spaces between words. Character count without spaces counts only letters, numbers, and punctuation — which is what some submission platforms specify when setting limits.
How is reading time calculated?
The standard assumption is 200–250 words per minute for average adult reading speed. Our tool uses 238 wpm, which is the median from readability research. Speaking time uses 130 wpm (typical for presentations and podcasts).
How do I check the word count of a Word document?
You can paste the document's text into our word counter, or use Microsoft Word's built-in word count (Tools > Word Count on Mac, or the word count indicator in the status bar at the bottom of the window).
Does word count matter for SEO?
Indirectly. Google doesn't use raw word count as a ranking factor, but longer, comprehensive content tends to cover a topic more thoroughly, which correlates with higher rankings for competitive queries. For most blog posts, 1,500–2,500 words is a practical target.