Word Counter
What this tool measures and how
This word counter runs entirely in your browser. Nothing is sent to a server. Paste or type your text and every metric updates instantly: word count, character count (with and without spaces), sentence count, paragraph count, estimated reading time, and Flesch-Kincaid readability grade level.
The social media bar shows how your text length compares to platform limits for Instagram captions (150 characters recommended), Facebook posts (250), X/Twitter posts (280), and LinkedIn updates (700). This is useful when adapting a single piece of text for multiple platforms.
Word count targets by format
Different writing formats have different length expectations. Knowing the target range before you start prevents both padding and painful cutting later.
| Format | Typical range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Blog post | 1,000-2,500 words | Longer posts (2,000+) tend to rank better in search, but only if the length is justified by the content |
| Short story | 1,000-7,500 words | Flash fiction is under 1,000. Novelettes are 7,500-17,500 |
| Novel | 70,000-100,000 words | Genre-dependent. Romance trends shorter (50K-80K). Epic fantasy runs longer (100K-150K+) |
| College essay | 500-5,000 words | Follow the assignment. Going 10% over is usually fine. Going 50% over signals inability to be concise |
| Cover letter | 250-400 words | One page maximum. Recruiters spend seconds on these, not minutes |
| Research abstract | 150-300 words | Usually a hard maximum. Every word must earn its place |
| 50-200 words | Shorter emails get faster responses. If it is over 200 words, consider whether it should be a meeting or document instead |
Reading time and readability
Reading time is calculated at 200 words per minute, the average adult reading speed for non-fiction. Fiction reading speed tends to be faster (250-300 wpm) because narrative text requires less cognitive processing than informational text. Use the estimate as a guideline, not a guarantee.
The readability grade level uses the Flesch-Kincaid formula, which estimates the US school grade needed to understand the text. Most popular writing targets grade 7-8 (ages 12-14). Academic writing lands at grade 12+. If your readability score is higher than your audience requires, consider shorter sentences and simpler vocabulary.
How word counting works (the edge cases)
Hyphenated words
Most word counters (including this one) count hyphenated compounds as one word. "Well-known" = 1 word. This matches the convention used by most publishers and academic institutions, though some style guides differ.
Numbers and dates
"2024" counts as one word. "January 1, 2024" counts as three. If you are near a word limit, know that writing "12" vs "twelve" changes your count.
Characters with and without spaces
Character count including spaces is what most social media platforms use for their limits. Character count excluding spaces is what some academic or publishing guidelines specify. This tool shows both so you do not have to guess which one applies.
Contractions
"Don't" counts as one word, not two. "Do not" counts as two. If you are trying to hit a word count minimum, expanding contractions is a legitimate way to add words without padding.