Word Counter
Character limits
Common Word Count Targets
How Reading Time Is Calculated
Reading time is estimated at 200 words per minute — a conservative average for adult readers. Fast readers typically manage 250–300 wpm; technical or dense material may be closer to 150 wpm. The estimate rounds up to the nearest half-minute.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is reading time calculated?
Reading time is estimated at 200 words per minute, a conservative average for adult readers on screen. Fast readers typically manage 250–300 wpm; technical or dense content may be closer to 150 wpm. The estimate rounds up to the nearest half-minute, so a 450-word piece shows as a 3-minute read.
Does the word counter count hyphenated words as one word or two?
Hyphenated compounds like "well-known" or "part-time" are counted as one word because the hyphen joins them into a single token. Most word processors and style guides treat hyphenated words the same way, so this count matches what Microsoft Word and Google Docs would show.
What is the ideal word count for a blog post?
There is no single answer — it depends on your goal. Short informational posts (300–600 words) answer simple questions quickly. Standard blog posts (1,000–1,500 words) rank well for moderately competitive topics. Long-form articles (2,000–5,000 words) tend to rank for competitive keywords and earn more backlinks, but only if the length is justified by the content.
Why does my word count differ from Microsoft Word?
Small differences between word counters are normal. They arise from how each tool tokenizes contractions, hyphens, URLs, and special characters. For example, "it's" may count as one or two words depending on the tool. For official submissions with strict word limits, confirm which tool your institution or publisher uses.