Guide · 2 min read ·
Word counts, character limits and reading time: a quick guide for writers
Almost every piece of writing meets a limit sooner or later: a page title that gets cut off, a post that is too long for a platform, a description that must fit a form. Counting by eye is slow and unreliable. This guide explains what the different counts mean, which limits matter in practice and how to use the counter to get text to the right size without ruining it.
Words, characters and what lies between
A word count is the number of groups of letters separated by spaces. A character count is every letter, number, space and symbol. The tool shows characters with spaces and without, because different places count them differently. A text message limit usually counts spaces, while some form fields do not.
It also shows sentences, paragraphs and lines. These are simple measures of how a text is built, and they help you spot a paragraph that has run on too long.
The limits that matter most
Different places cut your text at different lengths. These are the common ones the counter checks against.
- A page title is usually cut off near 60 characters in search results.
- A meta description is usually cut off near 160 characters.
- A standard post on X allows 280 characters.
- A CircleSaaS listing description allows 150 characters.
- A single text message is 160 characters before it is split.
- A standard LinkedIn post allows about 3,000 characters.
Reading time and speaking time
Reading time is the word count divided by an average reading speed. This tool uses 225 words a minute, a common figure for adults reading online. Speaking time uses 150 words a minute, a normal speaking pace for a presentation or a video script.
These are averages, and people read at very different speeds. Use them to plan, for example to see whether a script fits a two minute video, and not as a promise.
How long should content be?
There is no ideal word count for search. Long pages do not rank because they are long, and short pages do not fail because they are short. The right length is however many words it takes to answer the question well. A product description may need 100 words, and a guide may need 1,500.
What does matter is that the length suits the place it appears. A title that is far too long gets cut, a description that is too short wastes space, and a post that is too long for a platform simply will not publish.
Cutting text without losing meaning
When you are over a limit, remove words that add nothing before you remove ideas. Cut openings such as it is important to note that, drop adverbs that repeat a verb, and swap long phrases for short ones. Then read it aloud, because a sentence that is easy to say is usually easy to read.
The most used words list shows which words appear most often once common filler is removed. If one word fills the list, you may be repeating yourself.
Using the counter
Paste or type your text and every number updates as you go. Check the bars to see how close you are to each limit, and read the notes beside them. If you are writing a title or description for a web page, the SERP preview tool shows how it will look in Google, and the listing copy generator can draft the words for you.