Word Counter
Count words, characters, sentences, and paragraphs in your text
What is This Tool?
The Word Counter is a free online tool that instantly analyzes your text and provides detailed statistics including word count, character count (with and without spaces), and paragraph count. Whether you are an SEO specialist optimizing meta tags, a content writer meeting article requirements, or a student working on an essay, this tool gives you the exact numbers you need.
How to Use This Tool
- Paste or type your text into the text area
- Click the Count button to analyze your content
- View your results displayed above the text area
What You Will See
| Metric | Description |
|---|---|
| Words | Total number of words in your text |
| Characters | Total characters excluding spaces (important for strict character limits) |
| Characters (with spaces) | Total characters including spaces (standard character count) |
| Paragraphs | Number of paragraphs in your content |
SEO Title and Meta Description Guidelines
Search engines display limited characters for titles and descriptions. Use this tool to ensure your SEO content fits within the recommended limits:
SEO Title (Title Tag)
| Search Engine | Recommended Length | Maximum Display |
|---|---|---|
| 50-60 characters | ~600 pixels (approximately 60 characters) | |
| Bing | 50-60 characters | 65 characters |
| Yahoo | 50-60 characters | 65 characters |
Tip: Keep your SEO title under 60 characters to prevent truncation in search results. Place important keywords near the beginning.
Meta Description
| Search Engine | Recommended Length | Maximum Display |
|---|---|---|
| Google (Desktop) | 150-160 characters | ~920 pixels (approximately 160 characters) |
| Google (Mobile) | 120-130 characters | ~680 pixels (approximately 130 characters) |
| Bing | 150-160 characters | 160 characters |
Tip: Write compelling meta descriptions between 150-160 characters. Include your target keyword and a clear call-to-action.
Article Length Guidelines for Writers
Different content types require different word counts. Here are industry-standard recommendations:
Blog Posts and Articles
| Content Type | Recommended Word Count | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Short Blog Post | 300-600 words | Quick updates, news, announcements |
| Standard Blog Post | 600-1,000 words | Regular content, how-to guides |
| Long-Form Article | 1,000-2,000 words | In-depth guides, tutorials |
| Pillar Content | 2,000-4,000+ words | Comprehensive guides, ultimate resources |
| Product Description | 100-300 words | E-commerce product pages |
| Landing Page | 500-1,000 words | Sales and conversion pages |
Academic Writing
| Document Type | Typical Word Count |
|---|---|
| Short Essay | 500-1,000 words |
| Standard Essay | 1,500-2,500 words |
| Research Paper | 3,000-5,000 words |
| Thesis | 10,000-15,000 words |
| Dissertation | 15,000-50,000+ words |
Social Media Character Limits
Each platform has specific character limits. Use the character count to optimize your posts:
| Platform | Character Limit | Recommended Length |
|---|---|---|
| Twitter/X | 280 characters | 71-100 characters for best engagement |
| Facebook Post | 63,206 characters | 40-80 characters for best engagement |
| Instagram Caption | 2,200 characters | 138-150 characters (before "more" link) |
| LinkedIn Post | 3,000 characters | 25-50 words for best engagement |
| Pinterest Description | 500 characters | 150-300 characters |
| YouTube Title | 100 characters | 60-70 characters |
| YouTube Description | 5,000 characters | First 150 characters are most important |
| TikTok Caption | 2,200 characters | 80-100 characters |
Who Uses This Tool?
- SEO Specialists - Optimize title tags and meta descriptions for search engines
- Content Writers - Meet word count requirements for articles and blog posts
- Copywriters - Craft ad copy within character limits
- Social Media Managers - Create posts that fit platform requirements
- Students - Meet essay and assignment word count requirements
- Journalists - Write articles within publication guidelines
- Translators - Compare source and target text lengths
- Authors - Track chapter and manuscript word counts
Tips for Effective Writing
- Quality over quantity - Focus on valuable content rather than hitting word counts
- Break up long content - Use paragraphs, headings, and bullet points for readability
- Front-load important information - Place key points early, especially for SEO content
- Edit ruthlessly - Remove unnecessary words to make your writing more impactful
- Consider your audience - Match content length to reader expectations and platform norms
Reading Time Estimation
The average adult reads approximately 200-250 words per minute. Use this to estimate reading time:
- 500 words = ~2 minutes
- 1,000 words = ~4-5 minutes
- 2,000 words = ~8-10 minutes
- 5,000 words = ~20-25 minutes