Essay Word Counter

Paste your draft and watch it update live, word count, sentences, paragraphs, and how far you are from your target length.

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Word count

words

Target: 1,000 words0%

You're over your target by 0 words.

Target reached, 0 words to spare.

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Detailed statistics

0Characters

0Sentences

0Paragraphs

0Words / sentence

0sReading time

0Pages (dbl spaced)

Typical essay lengths

Essay type	Words	Pages (double spaced)	Paragraphs
Short answer / exam response	150 to 300	0.5 to 1	1 to 3
High school essay	300 to 1,000	1 to 4	3 to 5
College application essay	500 to 650	2 to 2.5	4 to 6
Undergraduate term paper	1,500 to 3,000	6 to 12	6 to 10
Graduate seminar paper	3,000 to 6,000	12 to 24	12 to 20
IELTS Writing Task 2	250+ (min)	1	4 to 5
TOEFL independent writing	300+ (min)	1 to 1.5	4 to 5

How to hit your word count (without padding)

Under the target? Add a concrete example to each body paragraph, then explicitly explain what the example proves. Evidence plus analysis is the fastest legitimate way to add 100 to 150 words.
Add a counter argument. One paragraph acknowledging an opposing view and rebutting it typically adds 120 to 200 words and usually improves the grade.
Expand your conclusion. Don't just restate, connect your argument to a wider implication, limitation or next question.
Over the target? Cut filler openers ("It is important to note that…"), redundant adverbs, and any example that doesn't support your thesis.
Never pad with repetition. Graders can tell, and it costs marks.

What counts toward the word limit?

Element	Usually counted?
Body text	Yes
Title and headings	Sometimes, check your rubric
In text citations (Smith, 2020)	Sometimes, APA counts them, MLA generally excludes them from the page limit
Reference list / bibliography	Almost never
Footnotes	Usually excluded
Appendices, tables, figures	Almost never

Heads up: this counter counts everything you paste, including headings and citations. If your rubric excludes them, cut them out before measuring, or aim for the lower end of the range.

Frequently asked questions

How many words should a 1,000 word essay have in each section?

A balanced split: introduction ~100 words, four body paragraphs of ~180 words each, and a conclusion ~120 words. That leaves a little headroom for closing sentences.

How many pages is a 1,000 word essay?

About 4 pages double spaced in 12 pt Times New Roman, or 2 pages single spaced. Use our words to pages calculator for other fonts and spacing.

Does the counter include the title?

Yes, every word you paste is counted. Leave the title out of the box if your rubric excludes it.

Is there a length limit?

No. The counter handles essays from 50 to 20,000+ words instantly.

Is my essay uploaded anywhere?

No. All counting happens locally in your browser, nothing is transmitted or stored.

Essay questions

Practical answers while you draft.

How do I check my word count online?

Paste the essay into the box. The word count, sentences and page estimate update live against the target you set.

Does the count include the title and references?

Only the text you paste is counted, so leave out anything your teacher says is excluded.

What if I am over the limit?

The progress bar turns red past the target. Cut repeated examples first, then tighten long sentences.

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