How to use the word counter
Type directly into the box or paste text from any document, email or web page. All counts update as you type — there is no button to press. Your text stays in your browser and is never uploaded.
Common word and character limits
| Where | Limit |
|---|---|
| X (Twitter) post | 280 characters |
| Instagram caption | 2,200 characters |
| TikTok caption | 4,000 characters |
| LinkedIn post | 3,000 characters |
| Google meta description | ~155–160 characters shown |
| Google title tag | ~50–60 characters shown |
| Common App personal essay | 650 words |
| Typical blog post | 1,000–2,000 words |
Why word count matters
Students need to hit essay requirements without going over. Writers and bloggers track length for editors and SEO. Marketers must fit headlines, ad copy and meta descriptions into strict character limits. Speakers use word count to time a speech: at about 150 words per minute, a 5-minute talk is roughly 750 words.
Words vs characters
Word limits are common for essays and articles, while character limits are used by social networks, SMS messages and search engines because they control how much physical space text takes up. Some platforms count spaces as characters and some do not, which is why both numbers are shown. Emoji may count as two characters on some platforms.
Tips for writing to a limit
- Cut filler words like "very", "really", "just" and "in order to".
- Replace phrases with single words: "due to the fact that" → "because".
- Prefer active voice: "We made mistakes" instead of "Mistakes were made by us".
- Need to fix capitalization afterwards? Use the Case Converter.
Frequently asked questions
How are words counted?
A word is any run of letters or numbers separated by spaces or punctuation. Hyphenated words such as "well-known" count as one word, and contractions such as "don't" count as one.
How is reading time estimated?
Reading time assumes an average adult silent reading speed of about 238 words per minute; speaking time assumes about 150 words per minute, a typical pace for presentations.
Is my text saved or sent anywhere?
No. Counting happens instantly in your browser. Nothing you type is stored or transmitted.
Does it count Chinese, Japanese or Thai text?
Characters are counted correctly for every language. Word counts are most accurate for languages that separate words with spaces, such as English, Spanish or French.