Word Counter — Count Words, Characters & Reading Time Guide

Tools · Free guide
Word counter for writers — illustration

Count words, characters, sentences, paragraphs, and estimated reading time — all updating live as you type. Essential for essay limits, blog post length, SEO content targets, and social media copy. The TetraKits Word Counter runs entirely in your browser — free, private, and ready on mobile or desktop.

Overview

College essays, Medium posts, newsletter editions, and client deliverables all specify word counts — not page counts. Paste your draft and see words, sentences, paragraphs, and reading time update as you edit.

How to use the word counter

  1. Paste or type your text — Enter articles, essays, emails, or drafts in the text area. Multi-paragraph content works.
  2. Read word and character counts — See total words, characters with and without spaces, sentences, and paragraphs — updated live.
  3. Check reading time — Estimated reading time assumes ~200 words per minute. For character-only limits, use the character counter.

Common use cases

  • Paste or type your text: Enter articles, essays, emails, or drafts in the text area.
  • Read word and character counts: See total words, characters with and without spaces, sentences, and paragraphs — updated live.
  • Check reading time: Estimated reading time assumes ~200 words per minute.
  • Bookmark for quick access: Save the tool for repeat tasks without installing an app.

Frequently asked questions

How are words counted?

Words are sequences of non-whitespace characters separated by spaces or line breaks. Hyphenated terms count as one word.

How is reading time estimated?

Reading time = word count ÷ 200 WPM (average adult reading speed). Adjust mentally for technical or dense content.

Does it count words in multiple languages?

Yes. Any Unicode text works. Word boundaries follow whitespace separation regardless of language.

What is the difference between this and the character counter?

This tool emphasizes word count and reading time. The character counter focuses on character limits for social and SEO.

Is this word counter free?

Yes. Unlimited counting with no signup; text never leaves your browser.