Word Counter
Paste or type any text to instantly see word count, character count, sentence count, paragraph count, and estimated reading and speaking times.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the word counter work?
The tool splits your text on whitespace to count words, and uses punctuation patterns to estimate sentence and paragraph counts. Reading time is calculated at 200 words per minute and speaking time at 130 words per minute — both widely-cited averages for silent reading and public speaking.
Why do reading time and speaking time differ?
The average person reads silently at around 200 words per minute but speaks at a slower pace of around 130 words per minute. This is why a 1,000-word article takes roughly 5 minutes to read but 7–8 minutes to deliver as a speech or podcast.
Does the word counter save my text?
No. Everything runs entirely in your browser. Your text is never sent to any server, so it is completely private.
What counts as a sentence?
The tool counts sequences ending in a period, exclamation mark, or question mark. It is an approximation — abbreviations (e.g., 'Mr.') may slightly inflate the count, but for most prose the result is accurate.