Word Counter
Free Word Counter. Free online tool with accurate results using verified formulas. Includes worked examples, FAQ, and instant calculations.
Reviewed by Daniel Agrici, Founder & Lead Developer · Editorial policy
Word Counter Formula
Words = text.split(whitespace).length | Reading time = words / 200
Words split on whitespace, characters counted directly, sentences split on .!?, paragraphs split on blank lines. Reading time assumes 200 WPM average.
Word Counter — Worked Examples
Example 1: 500-word article
Problem:Paste a 500-word blog post or article
Solution:Words: 500 | Reading time: ~2 min (at 200 WPM) | Characters: ~2,900
Result:Approximately 2 minutes reading time
Example 2: Twitter / X post (280 characters)
Problem:Draft a social media post within platform limits
Solution:Characters: ≤280 for Twitter/X | Characters: ≤3,000 for LinkedIn status
Result:Character count confirms post fits within platform limit
Example 3: SEO meta description
Problem:Write a meta description for a webpage
Solution:Optimal length: 140–155 characters (including spaces)
Result:Character count ensures full snippet appears in Google search results
Word Counter — Frequently Asked Questions
What counts as a word?
A word is any sequence of non-whitespace characters separated by spaces, tabs, or newlines. This counter splits text on all whitespace and removes empty segments, so 'hello-world' counts as one word and 'hello world' counts as two. Numbers, hyphenated compounds, and contractions each count as a single word.
What is the word count for a 5-minute speech?
The average speaker delivers 125–150 words per minute in a formal presentation, and up to 180 WPM in conversational speech. For a 5-minute speech you need approximately 625–750 words at a measured pace, or 800–900 words at a faster conversational rate. TED Talks typically average around 130–140 WPM.