A word count seems like the simplest number in writing, and then it matters for a dozen reasons. Genre norms and publisher guidelines set ranges for novels and novellas. Contests, anthologies and magazines set hard limits. Editors price by the word. Blog posts, query letters, blurbs and bios all have lengths that work and lengths that do not. An accurate count, with a clear method, is the first number most writers need.
Free tool · Word Count Tool
Word Count Tool that counts your words and tells you what the number means
The word count tool counts the words, characters, characters without spaces, sentences, paragraphs and unique words in any text that you paste, and it adds reading time, speaking time, an estimated page count, the average word length, the words per sentence and the longest sentence. It runs in your browser, keeps your text on your device and is free for novelists, students, bloggers and editors.
Use the free tool
The word count tool is free to use, with no account and nothing uploaded.
- Words, characters and sentences
- Reading and speaking time
- Page estimate
Key facts
- FreeNo cost, no account and no usage limit on the word count tool
- In your browserNothing that you type or paste into the word count tool is uploaded
- SecondsTypical time from opening the word count tool to a result
Free tool
Word count tool
Paste your text to count words, characters, sentences and paragraphs, and to see reading time, speaking time and an estimated page count.
The word count tool needs JavaScript, and it works in your browser without sending anything that you enter to a server.
Overview
What the word count tool does and why it helps
This tool gives that number and the context around it. Paste or type your text, and it counts words as runs of letters and digits, keeping apostrophes and hyphens inside a word. It then shows the characters with and without spaces, the sentences and paragraphs, and the number of different words that you used. A second row turns the count into time and space: how long the text takes to read silently at 238 words a minute, how long it takes to speak at 130 words a minute and how many pages it makes at 250 words a page.
Different programs count slightly differently, because they treat hyphens, numbers, symbols and line breaks in their own way, so a figure from one program can differ from another by a small amount. For consistency, pick one counter for a project and stick with it. If a contest or platform states how it counts, check your total against its rules. Because the tool counts in your browser and sends nothing anywhere, it is safe for unpublished chapters, client documents and anything private.
The word count tool counts the words, characters, sentences and paragraphs in any text you paste, and estimates reading time. Authors can use this free word count tool as often as they like, and it never asks for payment. Open the word count tool online and it is ready at once, with no download. We built it as a word count tool for authors, with book-specific defaults. It also serves as a word count tool for self-published books, whichever store you publish through.
Authors often want a word count tool online for chapters. A word count tool for PDF files is also a common request, and the usual approach is to copy the text out of the PDF and paste it here; the same applies to a word count tool PDF search. If you write in documents, you may look for a word count tool in Google Docs, a word count tool Google Docs option or a word count tool in Pages. A word count tool extension or word count tool Chrome extension is handy while you write, and a word count tool Grammarly users already know shows counts in its editor. This page is better for a quick check. The word count tool hackerrank solution that programmers write is a coding exercise rather than a tool for authors.
How to use it
How to use the word count tool, step by step
Paste your text
Copy any text into the box, from a paragraph to a whole chapter. The counts update as you paste, and nothing is uploaded, so unpublished work stays on your device.
Read the main counts
Words, characters, characters without spaces, sentences and paragraphs appear first. Check them against the limit of your platform, competition or publisher. Take your time with this step, because every later result in the word count tool depends on it.
Check reading and speaking time
The tool estimates how long the text takes to read silently and to speak aloud. It helps with planning talks, audiobooks and newsletters.
Look at the averages
Average word length, words per sentence and the longest sentence show how dense the writing is. A very long average sentence may need editing.
See the page estimate
A rough page count helps with planning a print book. It is an approximation, and the page estimator gives a more detailed one.
Copy or clear
Copy the figures you need and clear the box. The tool stores nothing, so you can paste another text straight away. If a value looks wrong, change it and read the result again; the word count tool never stores or uploads what you enter.
How the word count tool works
A simple count with context
Paste text into the box and the tool counts words as runs of letters and digits, keeping apostrophes and hyphens inside a word. It also counts characters with and without spaces, sentences and paragraphs, and the number of different words that you used.
It then turns the count into useful numbers. Reading time uses an average adult silent reading speed of 238 words per minute, speaking time uses 130 words per minute, a typical narration pace, and the page estimate uses 250 words per page, a common standard for manuscripts. It also gives your average word length and your longest sentence.
Everything is counted in your browser, so your text is never uploaded. That makes it safe for unpublished work, client documents and anything private. Use it for a chapter, a blurb, a bio, a query letter or a whole manuscript.
- Words, characters, sentences and paragraphs
- Reading time, speaking time and pages
- Your text stays in your browser
Method
How the word count tool works out its answer
What counts as a word
A word is a run of letters and digits, with apostrophes and hyphens kept inside it, so don't and well-known each count as one word.
Characters, sentences and paragraphs
Characters are counted with and without spaces. Sentences are split at full stops, question marks and exclamation marks, and paragraphs are separated by blank lines.
Reading and speaking time
Reading time divides the word count by 238, an average adult silent reading speed. Speaking time divides it by 130, a typical narration pace. The pages figure divides it by 250, a common manuscript standard.
Averages
The average word length is the total letters divided by the number of words, the words per sentence is the word count divided by the number of sentences and the longest sentence is shown in words.
Tips
Getting the most from the word count tool
Count the final version
Take your count after you edit, not before, since cuts and additions change it. The word count tool is free and instant, so it is worth running again whenever your book changes.
Check the limit's rules
Some limits include titles, quotations or bibliographies. Read the rules and adjust your text. Make the word count tool a routine step on every project, so that results stay consistent from book to book.
Keep a running total
Paste each chapter and add the counts, so you always know where you are. A few minutes with the word count tool now saves time across the whole manuscript.
Need it done for you?
When the word count tool is not enough
The word count tool tells you how long the manuscript is. These services turn that length into a finished print and ebook edition.
Book Interior Formatting
Interior formatting turns a counted manuscript into a laid-out book, with the page count, chapter openers and front matter that your word count predicted.
See the service →eBook Formatting Services
Ebook formatting builds one validated EPUB from the finished text, with a working contents page and styles that suit every reading device.
See the service →Novella Formatting
Novella formatting gives shorter books a full, confident layout, with page size and spacing chosen so that the book does not look thin.
See the service →Before and after
Before and after using the word count tool
The same manuscript, first counted by a different program each time and then measured with one clear method.
123Before
- 1A count that differs from a friend's
- 2A blurb that runs over its limit
- 3No idea how long the book takes to read
123After
- 1A clear count with a stated method
- 2A blurb checked against its limit
- 3Reading and speaking time at a glance
- 3problems found in the first review
- 3fixes checked in the final review
- 1named specialist owning every fix
- Fixedprice confirmed in the calculator before you order
A trusted number
The method is stated, so you can quote the count to editors, contests and platforms with confidence.
A fitted length
Contest limits, blurb limits and genre ranges are met because you can see where you stand as you edit.
A sense of scale
Reading time, speaking time and pages turn an abstract number into something that you can plan around.
Client reviews
What authors say about our manuscript length check service
Verified reviews from authors who asked a specialist to handle the manuscript length check after using the word count tool.
Navigating IngramSpark's requirements for the first time felt overwhelming. The upload assistance handled everything — metadata, pricing setup, distribution channels. My children's book reached bookstores within two weeks.
My cookbook needed to be set up across multiple platforms simultaneously. The publishing support team handled every submission — KDP, IngramSpark, and Apple Books — with different requirements for each. Flawlessly executed.
Getting historical fiction placed in the right categories on Amazon and IngramSpark required strategic metadata. The team understood the genre classification and the book reached the right readers from the first week.
Good publishing support overall. The KDP metadata setup was thorough. One category selection needed updating after initial launch but it was corrected promptly. The book is performing well in its target categories.
My YA novel needed to reach both English-language and Japanese readers. The multi-region distribution setup was handled correctly across all required platforms. International sales have exceeded my expectations.
As a first-time author, the technical side of self-publishing was genuinely daunting. The consultation covered every decision — platform choice, pricing strategy, metadata, and distribution. I launched with genuine confidence.
The publishing readiness review identified four issues in my manuscript that would have caused rejection. Each was clearly explained and quickly resolved. My book launched without any technical complications.
My KDP file was rejected with a technical error message I could not understand. Book Formatting Experts diagnosed the problem immediately — a bleed issue on three pages — and corrected it the same day. Approved first time.
Good support throughout the KDP upload process. The metadata setup and category selection were explained clearly. One pricing setting needed adjustment after initial setup but it was corrected quickly.
The formatting error fix service saved my launch. My original formatter had made margin errors causing repeated rejection. Book Formatting Experts identified and fixed every issue within 48 hours. My launch was back on schedule.
A fixed-layout EPUB for a cookbook is genuinely complex. The recipe layouts, ingredient lists, and photography all needed to remain pixel-perfect. The result looks as good as the print version on every device.
Very good understanding of academic formatting requirements. One heading level needed adjustment in revisions but the overall standard was exactly right for a scholarly publication. My publisher was satisfied.
Every genre convention was applied correctly. The chapter openers, the dedication page, and the acknowledgements all flowed naturally. Readers have complimented how comfortable the book feels to read.
Business book covers need to convey authority and insight without being dull. The design found exactly the right balance. My corporate clients commented that the book looks as credible as any major publisher's management title.
My bilingual poetry collection had French and Wolof on facing pages. The layout handled both languages with the right visual balance. One alignment correction in revisions and it was exactly right.
My psychological thriller had unreliable narrator chapters that needed specific typographic signals to the reader. Every formatting choice reinforced the story. My beta readers said the book felt cinematic.
The dark, atmospheric design matches the tone of my crime novels without feeling clichéd. New readers understand the genre and mood of my work immediately from the homepage. My ebook sales from website referrals increased by 60%.
The reflowable EPUB looks perfect on every device I tested — Kindle, Apple Books, and Kobo. The clickable table of contents and chapter navigation work exactly as they should.
More free tools
More free tools to use with the word count tool
Each of these tools is free, runs in your browser and works well alongside the word count tool.
Reading Time Calculator
On this manuscript length check job, free reading time calculator that works in your browser, plus a done-for-you reading length check service.
Open the tool →Page Count Estimator
On this manuscript length check job, free page count estimator that works in your browser, plus a done-for-you interior layout plan service.
Open the tool →Word Frequency Analyzer
On this manuscript length check job, free word frequency analyzer that works in your browser, plus a done-for-you repetition edit service.
Open the tool →Writing Goal Calculator
Free writing goal calculator that works in your browser, plus a done-for-you manuscript plan service for the manuscript length check.
Open the tool →Dialogue Ratio Calculator
Free dialogue ratio calculator that works in your browser, plus a done-for-you dialogue balance review service for the manuscript length check.
Open the tool →Chapter Length Analyzer
Free chapter length analyzer that works in your browser, plus a done-for-you chapter structure review service for the manuscript length check.
Open the tool →FAQ
Word Count Tool: questions answered
These are the questions authors ask most about the word count tool, including accuracy, privacy and what to do next. If your question about the manuscript length check is missing, request a quote and a specialist will reply.
What is a word count tool?
It is a tool that counts the words, characters, sentences and paragraphs in a text, and often adds reading time and an estimated page count.
How does the tool count words?
It counts runs of letters and digits, keeping apostrophes and hyphens inside a word, so don't and well-known are each one word.
Why does my word processor give a different count?
Programs treat hyphens, numbers, symbols and line breaks in different ways, so small differences are normal. Use one counter for a project.
How is reading time calculated?
It divides the word count by 238 words per minute, an average adult silent reading speed. Real readers vary.
How is speaking time calculated?
It divides the word count by 130 words per minute, a typical narration pace. A slower or faster speaker will differ.
How many words are on a page?
A common manuscript standard is 250 words per page, and the tool uses that figure for the page estimate. A printed book page differs.
How long is a novel?
Many novels run from 70,000 to 100,000 words, and genres differ. Novellas are shorter and epics longer.
What is the unique word count?
It is the number of different words in your text, ignoring repeats, and it gives a rough idea of vocabulary variety.
Can I count characters with and without spaces?
Yes, the tool shows both, which is useful for limits such as blurbs and metadata fields.
Does it count words in headings and notes?
It counts everything that you paste, so paste only the text that you want to measure.
Does the word count tool keep anything that I enter?
No. The word count tool works in your browser, so what you enter stays on your device and is never saved.
Is the word count tool free?
Yes, the word count tool costs nothing, needs no account and puts no limit on the length of text you check.
Is my text stored anywhere?
No. The counting runs entirely in JavaScript inside your own browser tab, so nothing is transmitted to a server and nothing is saved. Close the tab and the text is gone, which makes it safe for unpublished or contracted work.
Does the reading time include skimming?
No, it assumes steady linear reading of continuous prose. Technical writing, reference material and anything with tables or footnotes will take considerably longer, because readers stop, reread and cross-check as they go.
Can I paste an entire manuscript?
Yes. The tool handles book-length files comfortably, though very large pastes may take a moment to recalculate on older devices. For chapter-by-chapter breakdowns, our chapter length analyzer splits the same file into per-chapter totals.
Work with a specialist
Turn what you learn from the word count tool into a finished book
The word count tool costs nothing, and so does asking what a specialist would do with your book. When the word count tool has done its part and you want finished files, a fixed price and one named person who owns the job, we are ready to start.