Is this sentence counter free to use?

Yes. The sentence counter is completely free, has no usage limits, and doesn't require an account.

Does the sentence counter store or upload my text?

No. All counting happens locally in your browser with JavaScript. Your text is never sent to a server or saved anywhere.

How does the tool detect where a sentence ends?

The tool splits text on periods, question marks and exclamation points followed by a space or line break. Because of this, abbreviations like 'Dr.' or decimal numbers like '3.14' can occasionally be miscounted as sentence breaks, so always spot-check unusual formatting.

What is a good average sentence length?

For general web and business writing, 15 to 20 words per sentence is considered easy to read. Academic and technical writing often runs longer, while marketing and children's content typically aims shorter, around 8 to 12 words.

Why does sentence length matter for readability?

Long, complex sentences are harder to follow and increase reading difficulty scores like Flesch-Kincaid. Mixing sentence lengths keeps writing engaging, while consistently long sentences can tire readers and bury the main point.

● Text Tools

Sentence Counter

Paste or type your text below to count sentences, measure average sentence length, and see a per-sentence breakdown — updated instantly, with nothing ever leaving your browser.

Text to count

Sentences

Words

Characters

Paragraphs

Avg Words/Sent

Read Time

Longest sentence

Shortest sentence

Avg. sentence length (chars)

Sentence-by-sentence breakdown

Every detected sentence, numbered in order, with its word and character count. Sentences over 25 words are flagged as long.

Start typing above to see each sentence listed here.

Sentence length distribution

Readability tools generally treat sentences under 12 words as short, 12–25 words as ideal for general writing, and over 25 words as long and harder to read.

Short (<12w)

Ideal (12–25w)

Long (>25w)

Start typing above to see your sentence length distribution.

Every feature, at a glance

Everything this sentence counter does, in one place.

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Real-time sentence counting

Counts sentences the moment you type or paste — no button to click, no page reload.

W

Word & character counts

Total words and characters are calculated alongside your sentence count for the full picture.

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Average sentence length

See your average words-per-sentence and average characters-per-sentence at a glance.

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Longest & shortest sentence

Instantly spot your longest and shortest sentence to catch run-ons or clipped fragments.

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Length distribution

A short / ideal / long breakdown of every sentence, based on common readability thresholds.

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Paragraph counting

Paragraphs are counted alongside sentences so you can check pacing across a full draft.

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Reading & speaking time

Estimated reading time (200 wpm) and speaking time (130 wpm) for scripts, speeches or blog posts.

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Per-sentence breakdown

Every sentence is listed individually with its own word and character count, flagged if it runs long.

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Copy, clear & download

Copy your text to the clipboard, clear the box, or download it as a plain .txt file in one click.

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100% private

All counting happens locally in your browser. Nothing you type is ever uploaded or stored.

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Free & unlimited

No signup, no paywall, no daily limit — use it as many times as you like.

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Works on any device

Fully responsive layout that works the same on phone, tablet and desktop.

What is a sentence counter?

A sentence counter is a text-analysis tool that detects and tallies the number of sentences in a piece of writing, alongside supporting stats like word count, average sentence length, and readability distribution. This one runs entirely as JavaScript inside your browser — there's no upload and no server round-trip, so your draft never leaves your device. Every count updates live as you type or paste.

How sentences are detected

The tool splits text on periods, question marks and exclamation points that are followed by a space or a line break, then trims and discards any empty fragments. This matches how most editors and grammar checkers segment sentences. Because abbreviations like "Dr." or "e.g." and decimal numbers like "3.14" contain periods too, unusual formatting can occasionally be miscounted — always spot-check technical or heavily abbreviated text.

Why sentence count and length matter

Sentence count and average length are two of the biggest drivers behind readability scores like Flesch-Kincaid and Gunning Fog. Shorter, varied sentences are easier to scan on a screen and tend to perform better in web copy, while consistently long sentences increase cognitive load and can bury your main point. Tracking this while you write — rather than after — makes editing faster.

Who uses a sentence counter

Writers & editors — spot run-on sentences and fragments before a piece goes to print.
Students — check that essays meet sentence-structure requirements for grammar assignments.
Content marketers — keep landing page and ad copy scannable by watching average sentence length.
SEO writers — readability scores that search-friendly content tools reward are heavily influenced by sentence length.
ESL learners — shorter, simpler sentences are easier to read and translate accurately.

Recommended average sentence length by writing type

Writing type	Typical average length
Marketing / ad copy	8–12 words
Blog posts & web content	15–20 words
Business & professional writing	15–20 words
Journalism	20–25 words
Academic & technical writing	20–30 words
Legal documents	25–35+ words