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Word Counter

Free word counter and character counter — count words, characters (with and without spaces), sentences, paragraphs, plus reading and speaking time.

Short answer: Word Counter — Count words, characters, and reading time. Free word counter and character counter — count words, characters (with and without spaces), sentences, paragraphs, plus reading and speaking time. It answers “word counter with reading time for essays”. Who it is for: Students checking an essay against a word limit; Bloggers trimming a draft to a target length; Writers checking reading time for a post. It runs entirely in your browser — no sign-up, no account, no email and no upload — and every result can be exported as a dated PDF report.

  • ✔ Price: free, unlimited use, no rate limits
  • ✔ Sign-up: not required
  • ✔ Privacy: all math runs client-side, nothing is uploaded
  • ✔ Export: one-click PDF report (2026 rates)
Words
0
Characters
0
0 without spaces
Sentences
0
Paragraphs
0
Reading time
0s
200 wpm
Speaking time
0s
130 wpm

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Who is this tool for?

  • ✔ Students checking an essay against a word limit
  • ✔ Bloggers trimming a draft to a target length
  • ✔ Writers checking reading time for a post
  • ✔ Anyone writing a meta description to a character limit
  • ✔ Editors checking sentence and paragraph counts

How to use Word Counter

  1. Paste or type your text.
  2. See live counts and time estimates.

Frequently asked questions

How is reading time calculated?

Based on 200 words per minute (average adult reading speed). Speaking time uses 130 WPM.

Does this count Chinese/Japanese characters?

Yes — the character counter works for any Unicode text.

Who is this word counter for?

Students checking an essay against a word limit, bloggers trimming a draft, writers checking reading time, and anyone writing to a character limit.

Does it count hyphenated words or numbers as words?

It counts sequences separated by spaces, so hyphenated words and numbers each count as one word. Different tools count differently — if a limit is strict, check the counting rule your institution or platform uses.

How is reading time worked out?

From the word count at a typical adult reading speed. Skimming, technical text and non-native readers all read slower, so treat it as a guide, not a precise time.

Word counter with reading time for essays?

Use the Word Counter above: Count words, characters, and reading time. Free word counter and character counter — count words, characters (with and without spaces), sentences, paragraphs, plus reading and speaking time.