# Word & Character Counter

Paste or type your text to get an instant count of words, characters, sentences, and paragraphs, plus estimated reading and speaking time. Handy for hitting meta-tag limits, social character caps, and content-length targets.

## How to use it

1. Type or paste your text into the box.
2. Read the live stats - words, characters, sentences, paragraphs, and reading time.
3. Use the character count to stay under limits for titles, meta descriptions, and social posts.
4. Check reading time to gauge whether a page is thin or in-depth for its topic.

## Frequently asked questions

### How long should a blog post be for SEO?

There's no magic number, but comprehensive articles that fully answer a query tend to rank better. For competitive topics, 1,500-2,500 words is common - though matching search intent matters far more than raw length.

### How is reading time calculated?

This tool uses an average adult silent reading speed of about 230 words per minute. Speaking time uses roughly 130 words per minute, which is useful for scripts and video.

### Does word count affect Google rankings?

Word count is not a ranking factor. Longer content often ranks well because it covers a topic more thoroughly, not because of its length - so write until the question is fully answered, then stop.

### How many words is a good meta description?

Meta descriptions are measured in characters, not words - aim for 120 to 155 characters (roughly 20 to 25 words). Use our character counter or SERP preview to check the exact length.

### Does this word counter store my text?

No. Counting happens entirely in your browser as you type - nothing is uploaded or saved, so you can safely paste sensitive or unpublished content.

Use the interactive tool: https://www.tryspook.com/tools/word-counter