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Markdown Word & Character Counter

Paste Markdown to estimate prose length and reading time with common syntax removed from the totals.

Words
42
Characters
265
218 without spaces
Sentences
4
Paragraphs
4
Reading time
1 min
at ~200 wpm
Mode
Prose only
Strips fenced code

Counts are calculated after stripping Markdown syntax: heading markers, list bullets, link URLs (kept visible text), images, and inline formatting. Fenced code blocks are excluded by default so prose counts stay realistic.

Estimate the readable length of Markdown

The Markdown Word Counter removes common heading, list, link, image, emphasis, quote, and code markers before estimating document length. Visible link text and image alt text remain part of the count.

Along with words and characters, the tool estimates sentences, paragraphs, and reading time at 200 words per minute. Code blocks can be included or excluded depending on the purpose of the document.

Counting happens in your browser. mdkit does not upload the text to a counting service or save it to an account.

Markdown count example

Heading markers and bold markers are removed, while the visible words remain.

Input
# Release notes

Added **dark mode** and fixed login errors.
Output
Words: 9 · Heading text: counted · Markdown markers: excluded

How to use the Markdown Word & Character Counter

  1. 1

    Paste your Markdown

    Drop Markdown text into the input area. The tool handles everything from a single paragraph to a full-length document.

  2. 2

    Review the counts

    Word count, character count (with and without spaces), sentence count, paragraph count, and reading time update live as you type or edit.

  3. 3

    Toggle code block inclusion

    Decide whether fenced code blocks count toward totals. For prose-focused work (blogs, essays), exclude them. For technical docs where code is part of the length target, include them.

Limits to know before you publish

  • Counts are estimates produced by pattern-based cleanup, not a full Markdown abstract syntax tree.
  • Tables, reference definitions, embedded HTML, unusual nesting, and renderer-specific syntax can affect totals.
  • Whitespace-based word counts are less meaningful for languages that do not separate words with spaces.

Common use cases

  • Hitting a word-count target for a blog post, article, or newsletter
  • Estimating reading time to add to a blog post's header
  • Measuring the length of README sections while keeping them scannable
  • Comparing drafts against an editorial length target without counting common Markdown markers
  • Verifying that an essay or academic submission fits a word-limit requirement

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the word count exclude Markdown syntax?+
It removes common heading, list, link, image, quote, emphasis, HTML-tag, and code markers. Complex tables, references, embedded HTML, and renderer-specific syntax can still affect the estimate.
How is reading time calculated?+
Reading time divides the estimated word count by 200 words per minute and rounds up. Technical difficulty, code, tables, and reader familiarity can make actual reading time different.
Can I include or exclude code blocks from the count?+
Yes. Toggle the "Include code blocks" option. By default, fenced code blocks are excluded, because most writers don't count code toward prose length.
Does it count characters with or without spaces?+
Both. You see character count with spaces (what most character-limited fields like Twitter and meta descriptions care about) and without spaces (used in some academic and legal contexts).
Is my text uploaded anywhere?+
No. Counting runs locally in your browser. You can paste proprietary drafts, unpublished work, or legal documents safely — nothing leaves your device.

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