Word & Character Counter
Live word, character and reading-time counts with social media limits.
How to use the Word & Character Counter
- Type or paste your text into the box.
- Words, characters, sentences, paragraphs and reading time update as you type.
- Check the limit bars to see if your text fits a tweet, an Instagram caption, a meta description and more.
- Your text is saved in this browser only, so it is still there if you come back.
About this tool
Whether you are writing an essay with a word limit, a product description, or a post for social media, knowing the exact count matters. This counter updates instantly as you type and shows the numbers people most often need: words, characters with and without spaces, sentences, paragraphs and estimated reading and speaking time.
The limit bars compare your text against common length limits such as a 280-character post on X, a 2,200-character Instagram caption, a 3,000-character LinkedIn post, and the roughly 60-character title and 160-character description that fit in Google search results. Bars turn amber as you approach a limit and red when you pass it.
Characters are counted the way people see them, so emoji and accented letters count as one, just like on most social platforms.
Frequently asked questions
How are words counted?
A word is any run of letters or numbers separated by spaces or punctuation. Hyphenated words like "well-known" count as one word, and numbers count as words.
How is reading time calculated?
Reading time assumes about 238 words per minute (a typical adult silent reading speed) and speaking time about 150 words per minute.
Do emoji count as one character?
Yes. The counter uses grapheme clusters, so an emoji or an accented letter counts as one character, matching what you see on screen.
Is my text private?
Yes. Counting happens in your browser. Your text is never uploaded; it is only kept in your browser's local storage so you don't lose it.