Free Word Counter with Character Limits for X & Instagram
Count words and characters as you type and see how close you are to X, Instagram and YouTube limits, plus reading time.
- Words
- 0
- Characters
- 0
- Without spaces
- 0
- Sentences
- 0
- Paragraphs
- 0
- Reading time
- 0 sec
- Speaking time
- 0 sec
Common limits
- X post
- YouTube title
- Search result description (guideline)
- Instagram caption
- YouTube description
X counts links as 23 characters and most emoji and Chinese, Japanese or Korean characters as 2; the X bar follows those rules.
Top keywords
Keywords appear once you type a few words.
| Word | Count | Density |
|---|
Your text never leaves your device. Everything is counted in your browser, so nothing is uploaded or saved.
What this tool does
Paste or type your text above to see the word and character count instantly, along with bars that show how close you are to the X, Instagram and YouTube limits. It counts words, characters (with and without spaces), sentences and paragraphs live as you type or paste. It also estimates reading and speaking time, lists your most used words with their keyword density, and shows bars for common length limits so you can see at a glance whether a post, title or caption fits.
How to use it
- Type or paste your text into the box above.
- Read the counts as they update, with no button to press.
- Watch the Common limits bars: they turn amber near a limit and red when you go over, with the number of characters to cut.
- Check Top keywords to see which words you repeat most. Untick Hide common words to include words like the and and.
- Press Clear to start again.
Common length limits
Last checked: October 3, 2026.
| Where | Limit | Source |
|---|---|---|
| X post | 280 characters (links count 23, most emoji and CJK characters count 2) | X developer documentation, counting characters |
| YouTube video title | 100 characters | YouTube Help |
| YouTube video description | 5,000 characters | YouTube Help |
| Instagram caption | 2,200 characters (also up to 30 hashtags and 20 mentions) | Instagram developer documentation |
| Meta description | No fixed limit; about 155 characters is a common guideline | Google Search Central |
Tips
- Write the most important words first. Search results, feeds and notifications often cut text short before the official limit.
- For a talk or video script, aim for about 130 to 180 words per minute of speaking. Use the speaking time as a first estimate and time yourself once.
- If one keyword is far above the others, try a synonym in a few places so the text reads naturally.
Free, Pro and Pro+
Everything in this tool is free, with no account and no Pro limits. Avalon Pro and Pro+ add bigger batches, longer files and extra features in other tools: compare plans.
Use this in your workflow
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Frequently asked questions
How many characters can an X post or Instagram caption have?
The Common limits table below lists each limit with its source, and the bars above turn amber near a limit and red when you go over, with the number of characters to cut.
Does it count characters with and without spaces?
Yes. Both counts update live as you type, along with words, sentences and paragraphs.
Is my text sent or saved anywhere?
No. Counting happens in your browser on your own device. Your text is not uploaded, and it is not kept after you close the page.
How is reading time calculated?
At 238 words per minute, the average silent reading speed for non-fiction found in a 2019 review of 190 reading studies by Marc Brysbaert. Speaking time uses 183 words per minute, the average reading-aloud speed from the same review.
Why does the X bar show a different number from Characters?
X counts some things differently: every link counts as 23 characters however long it is, and most emoji and Chinese, Japanese or Korean characters count as 2. The X bar follows those rules, so it matches what X shows when you post.
Is there a fixed limit for meta descriptions?
No. Google says there is no limit on how long a meta description can be, but it shortens the snippet in search results to fit the screen. About 155 characters is a common guideline for keeping the whole description visible, which is why that bar is marked as a guideline.
How are words counted?
Anything separated by spaces that contains a letter or number is one word, so well-known and don't count as one word each. Chinese and Japanese text, which has no spaces, is split into words using your browser's language rules.
How are paragraphs counted?
Each block of text on its own line counts as one paragraph. Empty lines are ignored.
What does keyword density mean?
It is how often a word appears compared with the total number of words. A word used 5 times in 200 words has a density of 2.5%. Common words like the and and are hidden by default so the words your text is actually about come first.