Short answer. A character counter counts every letter, digit, space and symbol in your text. It also counts words by splitting on spaces. Paste your text to see both numbers at once.
What the tool counts
Characters are every letter, digit, space, punctuation mark and symbol. A line break counts too. The tool also shows the count without spaces.
Words are groups of characters split by spaces or line breaks. The word "well-known" counts as one word. A dash with spaces on both sides counts as a word on its own, so avoid that if you need an exact count.
Sentences end with a period, a question mark or an exclamation mark. Paragraphs are blocks of text split by a blank line.
Reading time is words divided by 200. Many adults read about 200 words a minute on screen. Fast readers go faster, so treat it as a guide.
How to use it
Type in the box, or paste your draft. The counts change at once. Write in your own editor if you want to keep a copy, since this page does not store your text. Everything runs in your browser. Your text is not sent to a server.
Why counts can differ between tools
Different programs count in different ways. Some count a line break as one character and some as two. Some count emoji as one character and some as two or more. Some web forms count in bytes, not characters. If a limit is strict, test your text in the place where you will submit it.
Common limits
Limits change often. Treat this table as a starting point and check the current rules before you post or submit.
| Where | Typical limit | Note |
|---|---|---|
| X (Twitter) post | 280 characters | Check the current rules. Paid accounts may have more. |
| Instagram caption | 2,200 characters | Check the current rules. |
| LinkedIn post | 3,000 characters | Check the current rules. |
| SMS (one segment) | 160 characters | Special characters use shorter segments. Check the current rules. |
| Google title tag | About 60 characters | Display depends on pixel width. Check the current rules. |
| Meta description | About 155 to 160 characters | Google may rewrite it. Check the current rules. |
| Common App essay | 650 words | Check the current rules for this year. |
| YouTube title | 100 characters | Check the current rules. |
Worked example
Example. The text Study hard. Sleep well. has 4 words. Count the characters: Study (5), space (1), hard. (5), space (1), Sleep (5), space (1), well. (5). The total is 5 + 1 + 5 + 1 + 5 + 1 + 5 = 23 characters. Without the 3 spaces, it is 20 characters. It has 2 sentences and 1 paragraph. At 200 words a minute, 4 words take about 1 second, so the tool says under 1 min.
Questions
Does the counter include spaces?
Yes. The main count includes spaces. The line under it gives the count without spaces.
How are words counted?
The tool splits the text on spaces and line breaks. Each group of characters between them is one word.
Is my text saved or sent anywhere?
No. The count runs in your browser. Your text stays on your device.
Why does my form show a different number?
Forms may count line breaks, emoji or bytes in their own way. Always test in the real form for strict limits.
Is the reading time exact?
No. It uses 200 words a minute. Slow or hard text takes longer. Easy text takes less time.
Can I use it for an essay limit?
Yes. Check if your limit counts words or characters, and whether it counts the title and citations.
Last checked by the StudyCount team.