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Word Counter - Count Words, Characters, Sentences Online

Word Counter

Count words, characters, sentences, and more.

Why Word Count Matters

Whether you're writing an essay, blog post, academic paper, or social media update, knowing your word count is essential. Different platforms and purposes have specific word count requirements, and understanding text metrics helps you write more effectively.

Word Count Guidelines by Content Type

Content Type Recommended Length Notes
Tweet/X Post ~50 words (280 chars) Short, punchy, engaging
LinkedIn Post 150-300 words Professional, value-focused
Email Newsletter 200-500 words Scannable, actionable
Blog Post (SEO) 1,500-2,500 words Comprehensive, keyword-rich
Pillar Content 3,000-5,000+ words Authoritative, in-depth
Press Release 400-600 words Newsworthy, factual
Product Description 100-300 words Benefits-focused, scannable
Academic Essay Varies (500-5,000+) Per assignment requirements

Understanding Reading and Speaking Time

Reading and speaking times are calculated using average rates:

Reading Speed
  • Average adult: 200-250 WPM
  • Fast reader: 300-400 WPM
  • Speed reader: 400-700 WPM
  • Technical content: 100-150 WPM

This tool uses 200 WPM as a baseline.

Speaking Speed
  • Slow/deliberate: 100-120 WPM
  • Conversational: 120-150 WPM
  • Presentations: 125-150 WPM
  • Auctioneers: 250+ WPM

This tool uses 130 WPM as a baseline.

Characters vs. Words: When Each Matters

Character Counts Matter For:

  • Social Media: Twitter (280), Instagram bio (150), LinkedIn headline (120)
  • SEO: Meta titles (50-60 chars), meta descriptions (150-160 chars)
  • SMS Marketing: 160 characters per segment
  • Google Ads: Headlines (30 chars), descriptions (90 chars)

Word Counts Matter For:

  • Academic assignments: Essays, dissertations, research papers
  • Publishing: Magazine articles, book chapters
  • Content marketing: Blog posts, landing pages
  • Freelance writing: Per-word pricing and contracts

SEO and Word Count

Search engines don't have a magic word count requirement, but research shows correlations between content length and rankings:

  • Longer content ranks higher on average because it tends to be more comprehensive
  • Top-ranking pages average 1,500-2,500 words for competitive keywords
  • Quality over quantity: 1,000 great words beat 3,000 mediocre ones
  • Match user intent: Some queries need brief answers, others need depth
Pro tip: Analyze the top 10 results for your target keyword. Match or exceed their average word count while providing better content.

Sentences and Paragraphs for Readability

Beyond word count, sentence and paragraph structure affect readability:

  • Ideal sentence length: 15-20 words average
  • Vary sentence length: Mix short and longer sentences for rhythm
  • Paragraph length: 3-5 sentences for online reading
  • Use subheadings: Every 200-300 words for scannability
Quick Reference

Page Equivalents:

  • 250 words ≈ 1 page (double-spaced)
  • 500 words ≈ 1 page (single-spaced)

Time Estimates:

  • 250 words = ~1 min read
  • 500 words = ~2 min read
  • 1,000 words = ~4 min read
  • 2,500 words = ~10 min read
Platform Limits
  • Twitter/X: 280 chars
  • Instagram caption: 2,200 chars
  • LinkedIn post: 3,000 chars
  • Facebook post: 63,206 chars
  • YouTube title: 100 chars
  • Meta description: 155-160 chars
  • Meta title: 50-60 chars
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