Word Counter
Count words, characters, sentences and paragraphs as you type, with reading and speaking time.
About the Word Counter
A word is any run of letters or numbers between spaces, so hyphenated words count once and stray punctuation isn't counted. Reading time uses 238 words a minute, the average silent reading speed for adult non-fiction found in a 2019 review of 190 studies (Brysbaert); speaking time uses about 140 words a minute, a typical presentation pace.
Your text stays in your browser; nothing is uploaded.
The formula
Reading time = words ÷ 238; speaking time = words ÷ 140
Worked example
Example: Words = 13
- Input: Your text: The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog. It was not amused..
- Formula: Reading time = words ÷ 238; speaking time = words ÷ 140
- Result: Words = 13
- Characters: 63
- Characters without spaces: 51
- Sentences: 2
Questions people ask
Do numbers count as words?
Yes, “2026” counts as one word, as in most word processors.
Why does my word processor show a slightly different count?
Programs treat hyphens, dashes and symbols differently; differences of a few words are normal.