Freelancer Word Counter
Paste your draft to count words, characters, and reading time — plus what it's worth at your per-word rate. Built for writers, translators, and anyone who prices by the word.
Count
What should you charge per word?
Per-word rates vary wildly: $0.05–0.10 is entry-level content, $0.15–0.30 is professional, $0.50+ is specialist/technical. But per-word pricing punishes efficiency — a fast expert earns less per hour than a slow beginner at the same per-word rate. Use per-word for quoting, but always check the implied hourly: (words × rate) ÷ hours = real hourly. If it's below your floor, the per-word rate is wrong.
Frequently asked questions
How many words are in a typical blog post?
1,000–2,000 words is standard for SEO blog posts. Short posts run 500–800; in-depth guides go 2,500+. Reading time is roughly 200 words/minute.
What is a good per-word rate for freelance writers?
$0.10–0.30/word is the professional range for most niches. Technical, medical, and finance writing commands $0.30–1.00+. Beginners may start at $0.05–0.10 while building samples.
Should I charge per word or per project?
Per word is transparent for standard writing. Per project is better when research, interviews, or strategy are involved — the value isn't just words. Many writers quote per word but set a minimum project fee.
How long does it take to write 1,000 words?
1–3 hours for straightforward content, 4–8+ with research and interviews. At $0.15/word ($150), 2 hours = $75/hr; 6 hours = $25/hr. Always check the implied hourly.
Do spaces count in character counts?
Usually not for pricing — per-character rates (common in translation) typically count characters without spaces. The counter above shows both.
Price your words
Counts are computed in your browser; no text is sent anywhere. Estimates for planning only.