Free Word & Character Counter

What this counter measures

Words are counted as groups of characters separated by spaces or line breaks. Characters are counted two ways, with and without spaces. Sentences end at a period, question mark or exclamation point, and paragraphs are separated by a blank line.

Word count vs character count

Essays, articles and job applications usually set limits in words. Social posts, ad copy, SMS messages and search snippets usually set limits in characters, and most of them count spaces. When a form says "characters", assume spaces count unless it says otherwise.

Character limits for common content

• Page titles in search results often get cut off around 50–60 characters.
• Meta descriptions are often shortened around 150–160 characters.
• A standard SMS text message holds 160 characters.
• A post on X allows 280 characters on a standard account.
• Limits change, so check the platform's current guidelines before you publish.

How reading time is estimated

Reading time is based on about 225 words per minute, a typical pace for adults reading everyday business content. Technical material and skimming readers will vary, so treat it as a guide.