Free Word Count and Character Count Tool Online
Need to quickly check your word count or character count? Our free character count tool online gives you instant, accurate results as you type. Whether you're writing a tweet, crafting a meta description, or working on an essay, knowing your exact word and character count is essential for effective communication.
Unlike built-in word counters in apps like Google Docs or Microsoft Word, ToolBrew's word count checker works instantly in your browser. There's no software to install and no accounts to create. Just paste your text and get real-time statistics including words, characters (with and without spaces), sentences, and paragraphs.
How to Check Word Count in Google Docs (And a Faster Alternative)
Many writers use Google Docs and need to know how to see word count in Google Docs. Here's the official method:
Google Docs Word Count Checker Method:
- Open your document in Google Docs
- Click Tools in the menu bar
- Select Word count (or use Ctrl+Shift+C on Windows, Cmd+Shift+C on Mac)
- A popup will show pages, words, characters, and characters excluding spaces
For character count in Google Docs, the same Word Count dialog shows your character totals. You can also check the box "Display word count while typing" to see a live counter at the bottom of your document.
The faster alternative: If you need to quickly check how to check word count on Google Docs content without opening the app, simply copy your text and paste it into ToolBrew's word count checker above. You'll get instant results plus additional metrics like reading time and paragraph count that Google Docs doesn't provide.
How to See Word Count in Microsoft Word
Microsoft Word users often ask how to see word count on Word. Here are the methods:
Microsoft Word Character Count Methods:
- Status Bar: Look at the bottom-left corner of Word. It shows word count by default. Click it for detailed statistics.
- Review Tab: Go to Review, then Word Count for a detailed breakdown
- Keyboard Shortcut: Press Ctrl+Shift+G (Windows) to open Word Count dialog
For Microsoft Word character count, click on the word count in the status bar or use the Review, then Word Count option. The dialog shows characters with and without spaces, plus words, paragraphs, and lines.
Why use ToolBrew instead? Our character count online tool works on any device, including phone, tablet, or computer, without needing Microsoft Word installed. It's perfect for quick checks when you're working in a browser or on a device without Word.
Meta Description Character Count: Why It Matters for SEO
One of the most common uses for a character count calculator is checking meta description character count. Google typically displays 155-160 characters of your meta description in search results. Go over, and your description gets cut off with "..." making it less compelling.
Optimal Character Counts for SEO:
- Meta descriptions: 150-160 characters (including spaces)
- Title tags: 50-60 characters
- H1 headings: 20-70 characters
- URL slugs: 50-60 characters
Use our character count tool online to ensure your SEO elements hit these targets. The real-time counter updates as you type, so you can craft the perfect meta description without guesswork.
Social Media Character Limits
Every social platform has different limits. Our word count tool helps you stay within bounds:
Platform Character Limits (2025):
- Twitter/X: 280 characters (or 25,000 for premium)
- Instagram bio: 150 characters
- Instagram captions: 2,200 characters
- LinkedIn posts: 3,000 characters
- Facebook posts: 63,206 characters (but 40-80 get most engagement)
- TikTok captions: 2,200 characters
- YouTube titles: 100 characters (70 visible)
- YouTube descriptions: 5,000 characters
Academic Writing: Word Count Requirements
Students and researchers frequently need a reliable word count checker for assignments. Common academic requirements include:
- Short essays: 500-1,000 words
- Standard essays: 1,500-2,500 words
- Research papers: 3,000-5,000 words
- Dissertations: 10,000-80,000+ words
- Abstracts: 150-300 words
Pro tip: If your professor says "2,000 words," most will accept a 10% variance (1,800-2,200 words). Use our character count calculator to track your progress and hit your targets.
How to Use This Word Count Tool
- Type or paste your text into the text area above
- See instant results as you type, no need to click any buttons
- Check word count for essays, articles, or any content
- Monitor character count for social media, meta descriptions, or SMS
- Use the data to optimize your content for its intended purpose
Why Writers Trust ToolBrew's Word Counter
- 100% free with no hidden charges or premium tiers
- No account required, just paste and count
- Works offline, your text never leaves your browser
- Mobile-friendly, count words on any device
- Ad-free for a distraction-free writing environment
- Real-time updates, see counts change as you type
Frequently Asked Questions
In Google Docs, go to Tools, then Word count (or press Ctrl+Shift+C on Windows, Cmd+Shift+C on Mac). The dialog shows characters with and without spaces. To see a live counter while typing, check the box labeled "Display word count while typing" in that same dialog.
Characters without spaces counts only letters, numbers, and symbols. Characters with spaces includes the space character between words. For example, "Hello world" is 10 characters without spaces and 11 with spaces. Twitter counts characters with spaces, while some SMS systems count without.
Google displays approximately 155-160 characters of your meta description. If your description exceeds this limit, it gets truncated with "..." at the end. On mobile devices, the limit is even shorter at around 120 characters. Always check both character counts before publishing.
By default, Word shows the word count in the status bar at the bottom-left. If you don't see it, right-click the status bar and check "Word Count" to enable it. For a detailed breakdown including characters and paragraphs, click on the word count number or press Ctrl+Shift+G.
Emojis can count as 1-7 characters depending on the emoji and platform. Simple emojis like a smiley face count as 2 characters on Twitter. Complex emojis with skin tone modifiers or ZWJ sequences (like family emojis) can count as 7 or more. Always test with your target platform.
For SEO purposes, aim for 1,500-2,500 words for comprehensive articles. Studies show that longer content (2,000+ words) tends to rank higher in Google search results. However, quality matters more than length. Informational posts should thoroughly answer the user's query regardless of word count.
Most PDF readers don't have built-in word count. The easiest method is to select all text (Ctrl+A), copy it (Ctrl+C), and paste it into a word count tool. For scanned PDFs, you'll need OCR software first to extract the text before counting.