What is the Word Counter?
Essays, assignments, CSS and IELTS answers, blog posts and speeches all have word limits. The word counter updates as you type and shows words, characters with and without spaces, sentences, paragraphs, reading time and speaking time.
It also lists your top keywords with their density, which helps writers check SEO focus. Your text is saved only in your own browser. For character limits on social media use the Character Counter; to fix capital letters use the Case Converter.
How to use the Word Counter
- Type or paste your text.
- Read the live word, character and sentence counts.
- Check reading and speaking time.
- Use the buttons to change case, remove extra spaces, copy or clear.
Example
A 500-word essay takes about 2 minutes to read and 3.5 minutes to speak aloud.
Typical word counts
| Writing | Words |
|---|---|
| Tweet / X post | 30–50 |
| Short answer | 100–150 |
| IELTS Task 2 essay | 250+ |
| Blog post | 800–2,000 |
| CSS English essay | 2,500–3,000 |
| Thesis chapter | 5,000+ |
Word limits for students and writers
Teachers often allow 10% above or below a word limit, but exam boards and competitions can be strict. Write your draft, paste it here, and trim repeated phrases and filler words such as "very", "really" and "in order to". If your limit is in characters rather than words, switch to the Character Counter. For essay grades across a whole course, see the Grade Calculator.
You may also need
People who use the Word Counter often need these related tools too:
- Attendance Calculator: See your attendance percentage and exactly how many classes you can still miss, or must attend in a row, to stay above 75% or 80%.
Frequently asked questions
How are words counted?
Any group of letters or numbers separated by spaces or punctuation counts as a word.
How is reading time calculated?
At about 238 words per minute, an average adult reading speed.
Does it count Urdu words?
Yes, Urdu, Arabic and other scripts are counted.
Is my text saved?
Only in your own browser so you do not lose it on refresh. It is never sent to us.
What is keyword density?
How often a word appears as a percentage of all words. Writers use it to avoid over-using a keyword.
Is the Word Counter free to use?
Yes. The Word Counter on Custom Converter is completely free, with no sign-up, no daily limit and no watermark.
Does the Word Counter work on mobile phones?
Yes. It is built mobile-first and works on Android phones, iPhones, tablets and computers in any modern browser, with no app to install.