Word & Character Counter
Count words, characters, and reading time — plus see which keywords dominate your text.
Words
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Characters
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Sentences
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Paragraphs
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Based on 238 wpm reading and 140 wpm speaking — research-backed averages.
Word counts matter more than they should. Academic submissions get rejected over them, journalists write to them, and search engines quietly favor content that treats a subject thoroughly rather than superficially. But the count is only the surface. This tool also reports characters with and without spaces, sentences, paragraphs, estimated reading time, and keyword density — the metrics that tell you not just how much you wrote but whether it is readable. Everything runs in your browser, so nothing you paste is transmitted anywhere. That matters if you are checking a draft you have not published yet, or a document you are not free to share.
How the counter works
Paste or type text and every metric updates as you go. Words are counted by splitting on whitespace and discarding empty results, which handles multiple spaces, tabs, and line breaks correctly. Sentences are detected by terminal punctuation, paragraphs by blank lines. Reading time is derived from the word count using an average silent reading speed. Nothing is uploaded — the analysis runs entirely on your machine, and closing the tab discards it.
How the metrics work
Words = text.trim().split(/\s+/).length
Characters = text.length (spaces included)
Characters = text.replace(/\s/g,').length (excluded)
Sentences = matches of /[.!?]+/
Paragraphs = blocks separated by blank lines
Reading time = Words ÷ 225 words per minute
Speaking time = Words ÷ 130 words per minute
Keyword density = (Keyword count ÷ Total words) × 100The reading speed of 225 words per minute is an average for silent reading of general prose; technical material runs closer to 150, and speaking aloud is slower still at roughly 130 — which is why a 10-minute talk needs about 1,300 words, not 2,250. Word splitting on whitespace is the standard approach and matches most word processors, though it treats hyphenated compounds as single words. This is why your count may differ slightly from Word or Google Docs, which apply their own tokenization rules.
What to know about word counts
- 1Different tools count differently, so check which one your requirements are based on. Microsoft Word, Google Docs, and this tool can disagree by a percent or two on the same text, mostly over hyphenated words, numbers, and whether footnotes are included. If a submission has a hard limit, count in the tool your reviewer will use.
- 2Keyword density above roughly 2–3% reads as manipulation to both search engines and humans. Modern ranking systems understand synonyms and context, so repeating an exact phrase provides no benefit and actively damages readability. Write for the reader and the density resolves itself naturally.
- 3Reading time is an estimate, not a measurement. The 225 words-per-minute average covers general prose; dense technical writing, unfamiliar terminology, or text requiring reference to diagrams can halve that. Treat the figure as a rough signal for readers rather than a promise.
- 4Sentence length drives readability more than word choice. Averaging over 25 words per sentence makes prose difficult regardless of vocabulary. Varying length — some short, some long — is what produces rhythm; uniform sentences read as monotonous even when each one is individually clear.
- 5For SEO, comprehensiveness matters rather than length itself. Pages that rank well tend to be longer because they cover a topic completely, not because length is rewarded. Padding to hit a word count produces exactly the thin content that ranking systems are designed to detect.
Frequently asked questions
Is my text sent anywhere?
No. All analysis runs in your browser using JavaScript, and nothing is transmitted, logged, or stored. You can verify this by disconnecting from the internet — the counter continues to work normally, because there is no server involved. Closing the tab discards the text entirely.
Why does my count differ from Microsoft Word?
Because tokenization rules differ. This tool splits on whitespace, which is the standard approach, but Word applies its own rules for hyphenated compounds, numbers with separators, and embedded elements like footnotes or captions. Differences are usually under 2%. If a hard limit applies, count in whichever tool the person checking will use.
What is a good keyword density for SEO?
Somewhere between 0.5% and 2%, which is roughly what happens naturally when you write about a topic without thinking about it. Above 3% reads as stuffing and can trigger penalties. Search engines have understood semantic relationships for over a decade — they recognize related concepts and synonyms, so exact-phrase repetition adds nothing and costs readability.
How accurate is the reading time estimate?
It is a reasonable average for general prose at 225 words per minute, but individual speeds range from about 150 to over 400. Technical content, unfamiliar terminology, or text with diagrams to consult reads much slower. Use it as a rough guide to set reader expectations rather than a precise measurement.
How many words should my article be?
As many as the topic genuinely requires, which is an unsatisfying answer but the correct one. Content that ranks well tends to run 1,000–2,000 words because thorough coverage takes that much space, not because a threshold is rewarded. Padding to reach a target produces exactly the shallow content that both readers and ranking systems recognize and discount.