Why Count Words?
Word counts matter for many writing scenarios - from meeting essay requirements to optimizing content for SEO to estimating presentation length.
Common Word Count Guidelines
- Tweet/X post: 280 characters
- Meta description: 150-160 characters
- Blog post: 1,000-2,500 words
- Long-form content: 3,000+ words
- Email subject line: 40-50 characters
Reading Speed Reference
- Average adult: 200-250 words/minute
- Speed reader: 400-700 words/minute
- Speaking pace: 125-150 words/minute
Frequently Asked Questions
How are words counted?
Words are counted by splitting text on whitespace (spaces, tabs, newlines). Any sequence of characters separated by whitespace counts as one word.
How is reading time calculated?
Reading time is based on an average reading speed of 200 words per minute. This is a comfortable pace for most adults reading online content.
How is speaking time calculated?
Speaking time uses 150 words per minute, which is the average pace for presentations and public speaking. This gives you an estimate for how long it takes to read text aloud.
Is my data secure?
Yes! This tool runs entirely in your browser. Your text is never sent to any server - all processing happens locally on your device.