Character Counter Online
Count characters with and without spaces, words and text length as you type. Paste any text and see the totals update instantly in your browser.
Useful for forms, SEO snippets, social posts and any field with a character limit. It is free to use, and your text stays in your browser.
Spaces, line breaks and punctuation are included in the total with spaces.
Character limits vary by platform, account type and content format. Confirm the current limit before publishing.
What does a Character Counter count?
A character is any letter, number, punctuation mark, symbol or space in your text. This counter shows both character totals and also provides word count as a secondary metric.
Word count vs character count
Character count measures every individual character. Word count measures groups of text separated by spaces. Use character count for fields and platform limits; use word count for essays, articles and assignments.
With spaces vs without spaces
The total with spaces includes the gaps between words and all other whitespace. The total without spaces removes whitespace so you can measure only the written characters.
For example, Hello world!
has 12 characters with the space
and 11 characters without it.
- With spaces: use this for fields that count every typed character.
- Without spaces: use this when spacing should not affect the total.
When to use a Character Counter
- Check form fields and submission requirements.
- Fit social bios, captions and short posts.
- Review SEO titles and meta descriptions.
- Meet essay, assignment or application requirements.
- Check email subjects and short messages.
- Measure text for writing or editing work.
Need an estimated reading duration? Use the Reading Time Calculator.
Character Counter FAQ
How do I count characters online?
Type or paste text into the box above. The character and word totals update automatically as you edit.
Does the counter include spaces?
Yes. The characters-with-spaces total includes spaces, line breaks and other whitespace in the text.
Can I count characters without spaces?
Yes. A separate total removes all whitespace so you can see the character count without spaces.
What is the difference between character count and word count?
Character count measures individual letters, numbers, symbols, punctuation marks and spaces. Word count measures groups of text separated by whitespace.
Can I use it for forms, SEO and social media limits?
Yes. Compare the live character total with the current limit for the field or platform. Limits and counting rules can vary, so confirm them before publishing or submitting.
Is the Character Counter free and private?
Yes. It is free, requires no login and counts your text locally in your browser instead of sending it to MetricLab servers.
Related text tools
Choose the tool that matches what you need to do next.
- Text Normalizer — clean inconsistent text before counting.
- Remove Extra Spaces — remove repeated spacing.
- Paste as Plain Text — remove rich formatting.
- Reading Time — estimate reading duration.
- AI Cleanup — clean common formatting artifacts in AI output.
- Text Tools — browse all text tools.
Estimate text-based work
If text length affects your project price or delivery time, use Budget Pro to prepare a professional estimate.