Tech
Character Counter
Count characters, words, sentences, paragraphs, and lines in your text. Plus reading and speaking time estimates. Live, free, in-browser.
Paste or type your text
Counts update live as you type. Nothing leaves your browser.
Characters
0
Characters (no spaces)
0
Words
0
Sentences
0
Paragraphs
0
Lines
0
Reading time
0.0 min
Speaking time
0.0 min
Frequently Asked Questions about the Character Counter
How many characters and words should an essay have?
A 500-word essay runs about 2,500 to 3,000 characters including spaces. A 1,000-word essay lands around 5,000 to 6,000 characters. Most schools and editors grade on word count, not character count, so check the word total for assignments.
What is the character limit on Twitter or X?
A standard X post caps at 280 characters including spaces. X Premium subscribers can post up to 25,000 characters. The counter's "characters" figure counts every character including spaces, which matches how X counts your post length.
How does the reading time get calculated?
Reading time divides your word count by 200 words per minute, the typical silent reading rate for adults. Speaking time divides by 130 words per minute, a natural pace for presentations or voiceover scripts. Both figures are rounded to one decimal place.
How are sentences and paragraphs counted?
Sentences split on periods, exclamation points, and question marks; consecutive punctuation (like "...") counts as one boundary. Paragraphs split on two or more consecutive line breaks, so a single line break is treated as a new line, not a new paragraph.
Does my text get sent anywhere?
No. Every count runs locally in your browser the moment you type. Nothing is uploaded, logged, or stored on any server.