Utilia

Word Counter

Paste your text to see words, characters, sentences and reading time instantly.

0Words
0Characters
0Chars (no spaces)
0Sentences
0Paragraphs
0 minReading time
0 minSpeaking time

How to use the word counter

  1. Type or paste your text into the box below.
  2. The counters update live as you write, no button needed.
  3. Use Clear to start over or Copy to copy your text back.

Common word count targets

  • Meta description: about 150–160 characters.
  • Blog post for SEO: often 1,000–2,000 words for competitive topics.
  • College application essay: commonly 250–650 words.
  • Cover letter: usually 250–400 words.

Frequently asked questions

How are words counted?

A word is any run of letters or numbers separated by spaces or punctuation, so "don't" and "e-mail" each count as one word. This matches how most word processors count and works for accented languages like Portuguese, Spanish and French.

How is reading time calculated?

Reading time assumes an average silent reading speed of 238 words per minute, and speaking time assumes 150 words per minute, typical figures from reading research and presentation coaching.

Does it count characters with and without spaces?

Yes. Both are shown, which helps with limits such as meta descriptions (about 155 characters), tweets/posts, or application forms that count characters without spaces.

Is my text saved or sent anywhere?

No. Counting happens in your browser as you type. Nothing is stored or uploaded, so it is safe for drafts, essays and confidential documents.

Why might my count differ from Microsoft Word or Google Docs?

Tools treat edge cases like URLs, numbers with symbols, or em-dashes slightly differently. Differences are usually within one or two percent.

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