A word counter is a free online tool that counts the words, characters, sentences and paragraphs in any text as you type. This word counter also estimates reading and speaking time and shows the top 10 keyword density, making it ideal for essays, articles, resumes and social media posts.
Top 10 keyword density
| Keyword | Count | Density |
|---|---|---|
| Type some text to see keyword density. | ||
How does the word counter work?
Short answer: Paste or type your text into the box and the word counter updates every count instantly and automatically. Words are matched as sequences of letters and numbers, sentences are split on full stops, question marks and exclamation marks, and paragraphs are split on blank lines. Reading time assumes 200 words per minute and speaking time 150 words per minute.
The keyword density table ignores common stop words like 'the' and 'and' plus words of two letters or fewer, then counts what remains and shows each word's share of the total. That makes it easy to spot a word you are overusing. Everything runs locally in your browser with JavaScript, so even very long documents are counted in milliseconds and your text never leaves your device.
How many words should my essay or article be?
Short answer: A school essay runs 500 to 1,000 words, a college essay 1,000 to 2,500, and a blog article 1,200 to 2,500 words. Dissertations start at 10,000 words. Social posts are far shorter: under 280 characters on X and 150 to 300 words for LinkedIn. Paste your draft into the counter to check your target.
Word limits exist because readers and markers expect a certain depth. Too few words and your argument feels thin; too many and it wanders. Draft freely, then paste the text into the counter and trim or expand until you sit comfortably inside the required range.
What counts as a word in a word counter?
Short answer: A word is any sequence of letters or numbers separated by spaces or punctuation, so hyphenated terms and contractions count as single words. This matches how Microsoft Word and Google Docs count, give or take a word or two on edge cases like email addresses and URLs. Character counts include every letter, number, space and line break.
If an assignment has a strict word limit, always check the marker's own counting method. Some courses exclude headings, references or quotations. When in doubt, paste the exact text that will be submitted and keep a small safety margin under the limit.
Frequently asked questions
Is this word counter free and unlimited?
Yes. Count as many words as you like, as often as you like. There is no account, no daily limit and no watermark on anything you copy.
Is the word count the same as Microsoft Word?
Almost always within a word or two. Both tools count sequences of letters and numbers, and tiny differences only appear with hyphenated words, URLs or contractions. For assignments with strict limits, this counter is reliable.
Do you save or upload my text?
No. All counting happens in your browser with JavaScript. Your text never leaves your device, so the tool is safe for private drafts and confidential writing.
How is keyword density calculated?
The tool skips common stop words and words of two letters or fewer, counts the rest, and shows each word's percentage of the total. SEO writers usually aim for their main keyword at roughly 1 to 2 percent of the text.
How is reading time estimated?
Reading time is the word count divided by 200 words per minute, the average adult reading speed. Speaking time uses 150 words per minute, a typical presentation pace.