Free tool · runs in your browser

Paragraph counter

Count the paragraphs in your text and see how long each one runs, on average and at the extremes.

Your text Count every line break as a new paragraph

Paragraphs0

Words0

Sentences0

Average words per paragraph0

Longest paragraph0 words

Shortest paragraph0 words

By default a paragraph ends at a blank line, which is how most web and email text separates them.

Quick answer

Paste your text to count its paragraphs, along with the words and sentences, the average words per paragraph, and the longest and shortest. A paragraph ends at a blank line, which is how the web and email usually separate them. If your text uses single line breaks, turn on the option to count each break instead.

How to use it

Paste your text. Keep the line breaks from your document.
Choose the separator. Blank lines by default, or switch on single line breaks.
Check the balance. Compare the average with the longest paragraph, and split any that run long.

Example

Two blocks of text separated by a blank line make two paragraphs:

Input

The first paragraph has two sentences. Here is the second.

The second paragraph is short.

Output

Paragraphs: 2
Words: 15
Sentences: 3
Average words per paragraph: 7.5

Common errors and how to fix them

All my text counts as one paragraph: There are no blank lines between the paragraphs. Turn on "Count every line break as a new paragraph".
Every line counts as a paragraph: Your text has a blank line after each line, often from a PDF or email. Use the remove extra spaces tool to clean it first.

Frequently asked questions

How are paragraphs counted?

By default, text separated by at least one blank line is a paragraph. Blank lines holding only spaces are treated as blank too.

Why does it show one paragraph when I have many?

Your text probably uses single line breaks. Turn on "Count every line break as a new paragraph".

How long should a paragraph be?

For the web, about 40 to 100 words or 2 to 4 sentences is easy to read on a phone. Academic writing often uses 100 to 200 words per paragraph.

How many paragraphs are in a 500-word essay?

Usually about five: an introduction, three body paragraphs and a conclusion. A 1,000-word essay is often 7 to 10.

Do headings count as paragraphs?

Yes, if separated by blank lines, because plain text has no headings. Subtract them if your count needs body paragraphs only.

Does a one-sentence paragraph count?

Yes. Any block of text between blank lines counts, whatever its length.

Can I paste from Word or Google Docs?

Yes. Paragraphs copied from those programs usually arrive with line breaks. If they arrive with single breaks, turn on that option.

Is my text saved?

No. Everything is counted in your browser and disappears when you close the page.

How many sentences make a paragraph?

Often 3 to 5 in essays and 2 to 4 on the web, but a paragraph is defined by one idea, not a count. The sentence counter shows your sentence lengths.

Why does pasted text show too many paragraphs?

PDFs and emails often add a blank line after each line. Clean them with the remove extra spaces tool, then count again.