Free Word & Character Counter
Paste or type any text to instantly see the word count, character count, sentence and paragraph totals, plus an estimated reading time — all updated live as you type.
What is the word & character counter?
A word counter is a free tool that counts the words, characters, sentences and paragraphs in your text and estimates how long it takes to read. You type or paste your text and the totals update live as you go. Slashit's word counter runs in your browser, so nothing is uploaded and it works instantly, even offline once loaded. It's useful any time you're writing to a limit — essays, articles, meta descriptions, social posts or product copy — and want to keep an eye on length and reading time.
How our free word & character counter works
Type or paste your text
Add any text to the box. The counts start updating immediately, with no button to press.
Watch the live stats
See words, characters, characters without spaces, sentences and paragraphs, plus an estimated reading time.
Write to your target
Keep the tab open while you draft to stay within a word or character limit as you write.
What can you use the word & character counter for?
Hitting an assignment or essay word count
Universities and schools usually set a word range with a tolerance either side. Watching the live count as you write is easier than repeatedly checking in a word processor.
Staying inside a platform's character limit
Bios, ad copy, meta descriptions and SMS all have hard caps. The character count updates as you type, so you can trim before you hit the wall.
Estimating how long an article takes to read
The reading-time figure is useful for blog posts and newsletters, where readers respond better when you set expectations up front.
Checking content length for SEO
Writers often target a minimum word count to compete with pages already ranking. A live count is quicker than exporting and re-checking.
Quoting paid writing work
Freelancers are frequently paid per word or per thousand words. Pasting a draft in gives an instant, accurate basis for an invoice.
Who uses our free word & character counter?
Writers & students
Hit essay, article and assignment word counts exactly without pasting into a separate document.
Marketers & SEO teams
Keep titles, meta descriptions and ad copy inside character limits so nothing gets truncated.
Social media managers
Check post length against platform limits before you publish across networks.
Why use the word & character counter?
Live counts
Every number updates as you type, so you always know exactly where you stand against a limit.
Reading time estimate
See roughly how long your text takes to read, based on an average reading speed.
Free and private
No sign-up, no limits, and your text stays in your browser.
Common word and character limits worth knowing
A quick reference for the limits people most often check against.
| Where | Limit |
|---|---|
| SEO title tag | About 60 characters before truncation |
| Meta description | About 155–160 characters |
| X / Twitter post | 280 characters |
| Instagram caption | 2,200 characters |
| LinkedIn headline | 220 characters |
| Single SMS message | 160 characters |
| Google Ads headline | 30 characters |
Tips for getting the best results
Know which count you're being judged on
Word counts vary slightly between tools depending on how hyphenated words and numbers are treated. If a strict limit applies, leave yourself a small margin.
Characters with or without spaces
Publishers and translators often specify "characters excluding spaces". Both figures are shown, so check which one your brief means before trimming.
Use reading time to structure long posts
Anything over about seven minutes benefits from subheadings and a summary at the top, or readers skim and leave.
Paste as plain text
Copying from a word processor can bring hidden formatting with it. Pasting plain text gives a cleaner, more reliable count.
Frequently asked questions
How is reading time calculated?
It's based on an average adult reading speed of about 200 words per minute, so it's a close estimate rather than an exact figure.
Does it count characters with and without spaces?
Yes. You get total characters, characters excluding spaces, words, sentences and paragraphs, all at once.
Is there a word limit?
No. You can paste as much text as you like — it all runs in your browser with no cap.
How is a word counted?
A word is any run of characters separated by spaces or line breaks. Hyphenated terms such as “state-of-the-art” count as one word, and numbers count as words too.
Does the word counter work offline?
Once the page has loaded, yes. Everything runs in your browser, so counting continues to work even if your connection drops.
Is my text stored or sent anywhere?
No. Your text stays in your browser and is never uploaded, which means it's safe to paste confidential drafts and client work.
How many pages is my word count?
As a rough guide, 250 words is about one double-spaced page and 500 words about one single-spaced page in a standard 12pt font — though margins and font choice change this.
How is reading time calculated?
It's based on an average adult reading speed of roughly 200 words per minute. Technical writing usually reads slower, so treat it as an estimate.
