Free Online Character Count Tool
HoxTools Character Counter is a free online tool that helps you count characters, words, sentences and paragraphs. Type or paste text into the editor and see the statistics update automatically.
Use this character count online tool for assignments, articles, website content, social media captions, messages, page titles and other writing. You can also check a selected character limit and estimate the number of SMS segments.
Count Characters With or Without Spaces
Some writing requirements include spaces and line breaks, while others ask for characters without spaces. This tool displays both results so you can use the count that matches your requirement.
- Characters: Counts visible text characters, including spaces, punctuation and line breaks.
- Characters (No Spaces): Excludes whitespace characters such as spaces, tabs and line breaks.
Check 500, 1,000, 2,000, 5,000 and 10,000 Characters
Select a character limit from the dropdown above to see your progress and remaining characters. The progress bar updates as you type or paste text. You can also select No Character Limit when you do not need a specific target.
What is 5,000 characters?
A 5,000-character text is a substantial piece of writing. Depending on word length, spacing and punctuation, it may contain roughly 700 to 1,000 words. The exact word count varies with the content.
What is 10,000 characters?
A 10,000-character text is suitable for checking longer articles, reports, essays and other documents. Use the character counter to measure the exact length instead of relying on an approximate word count.
SMS Character Counter: GSM-7 and Unicode
SMS messages can use different character encodings. GSM-7 supports a standard character set and uses septets. Some special characters require two septets. If a message contains a character outside the GSM-7 alphabet, it is generally sent using Unicode encoding.
- GSM-7: Up to 160 units in one SMS, or normally 153 units per segment for a multipart message.
- Unicode: Up to 70 UTF-16 code units in one SMS, or normally 67 code units per multipart segment.
Emojis and many non-Latin characters require Unicode. Some emojis use more than one UTF-16 code unit. The SMS result is an estimate; network providers and message gateways may apply their own rules.
Word, Sentence and Paragraph Counter
In addition to character counting, the tool provides several useful writing statistics:
- Words: Counts groups of text separated by whitespace.
- Sentences: Estimates sentence count using common sentence-ending punctuation.
- Paragraphs: Counts non-empty blocks separated by blank lines.
- Reading Time: Estimates reading time using approximately 200 words per minute.
Who Can Use This Free Character Counter?
Students can check assignment length, writers can measure article text, bloggers can review content, and social media managers can check captions before publishing. Website owners and SEO professionals can also use the tool when preparing page titles and meta descriptions.
How to Count Characters Online
- Open the HoxTools Character Counter.
- Type or paste your text into the editor.
- Check total characters and characters without spaces.
- Select a character limit to view remaining characters.
- Review words, sentences and paragraphs.
- Check SMS encoding and estimated segments if needed.
- Use Copy Text or Clear Text when finished.
Does HoxTools Store My Text?
The counting calculations on this page run in your browser. The counter does not need to submit your text to a server to calculate its displayed statistics. This statement applies to the counter functionality, not to separate hosting, analytics or other website services.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I check character count?
Paste or type your text into the editor. The total character count updates automatically as you make changes.
Is there a free character counter available?
Yes. HoxTools provides a free online character counter. You do not need to register or create an account.
Can I count characters without spaces?
Yes. Check the Characters (No Spaces) result to see the count after whitespace has been excluded.
Can I count words as well as characters?
Yes. The tool also displays words, estimated sentences, paragraphs and reading time.
How many characters are in an SMS?
A single GSM-7 SMS normally supports 160 units, while a single Unicode SMS normally supports 70 UTF-16 code units. Longer messages are split into multiple segments.
Can I use this tool for long documents?
Yes. You can paste long text into the editor. Performance may depend on your browser and device.
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- Explore All Free Tools — discover more HoxTools utilities.