How to Check Word Count for Essays, Applications, and Social Posts

Most submission forms have strict length limits: 500 words for a personal statement, 150 characters for a bio, 2000 characters for a cover letter. Checking counts early prevents rushed edits at the deadline.

What This Tool Counts

MetricExample Use
WordsEssay word limits, article length
Characters (with spaces)Social media bios, form fields
Characters (no spaces)SMS limits, Korean character limits
SentencesReadability checks
ParagraphsStructure review
Reading timePresentation prep
Speaking timeSpeech prep

How to Check

  1. Open Word Counter.
  2. Paste or type your text.
  3. All counts update instantly as you type.

Common Platform Limits

Platform / ContextLimit
Twitter/X post280 characters
Instagram bio150 characters
LinkedIn summary2,600 characters
College essay (Common App)250–650 words
Korean 자기소개서500–1,000 characters (no spaces)
Cover letter250–400 words

Tips

  • Korean text: Use "characters without spaces" for Korean character limits, since Korean counts characters differently from English word counts.
  • Check early: Paste your draft when it is 70–80% done. It is easier to trim 50 extra words than 200.
  • Reading time: If you are preparing a presentation, the speaking time estimate helps you plan slides.

After Counting

  • Need to change text case for headings? Use Case Converter.
  • Want to compare two versions of your text? Use Text Diff to see exactly what changed.