Count words, Unicode characters, paragraphs and reading time in a draft.
n Inputs are processed locally by this tool. Other site plugins, hosting logs, ads and embeds have their own data handling. Text limit: 1 MiB UTF-8.
How to use Word Counter
- Paste a draft or type into the field.
- Read the live totals; blank input returns zeros.
- Copy the summary or follow related writing tools.
Example
The sample has two paragraphs. A single emoji may contain several code points but one visible grapheme.
Method and formula
Words are sequences of Unicode letters or numbers with their combining marks; internal apostrophes stay in a word. Characters count Unicode code points, including spaces and line breaks. A separate grapheme count groups visible characters when Intl.Segmenter is available. Paragraphs are non-empty sections separated by blank lines. Reading time rounds words / 200 upward to whole minutes.
Limits and supported input
Hyphenated terms count as separate words. Unspaced Chinese, Japanese or Thai writing is not linguistically segmented. Reading time is an estimate for ordinary prose, not an accessibility or comprehension assessment.
Privacy
This tool processes the input in your current browser tab. It does not upload your input or call a paid or remote API. Copying places text on your system clipboard; downloading saves a file on your device. Site hosting logs, analytics, ads, third-party embeds and other installed plugins are separate and can have their own data handling. JavaScript is required for the tool, while this explanation remains available without it.
Frequently asked questions
Are spaces counted?
Yes, character totals include spaces and line breaks.
Why does another editor show a different word count?
Editors use different rules for punctuation and languages. This page states its counting rule.