How to use the tally counter
- New counter name: type what you are counting, such as Guests or Cars, and press Add counter or Enter. Leave the box empty to get a name like Counter 2.
- Press +1 for each thing you count and -1 to take one off. The count stops at 0 and cannot go negative.
- Change a name any time by editing the box above its number. Reset sets one counter to 0 and Delete removes it.
- Reset all to 0 clears every counter. If you reset or delete by accident, press Undo in the bar that appears.
- Copy counts puts each name and count, plus the total, on your clipboard so you can paste it into a note or spreadsheet.
How it works
Each counter is a whole number from 0 to 999,999,999, and the total line is the sum of all your counters. Your names and counts are written to your browser's local storage after every tap, so they come back when you reopen the page on the same device. See MDN's description of localStorage. The page does not send your counts anywhere, and there is no account to create.
Worked example
On first load there is one counter, Counter 1, at 0, and the box reads Total across 1 counter: 0. Press +1 three times and it reads Total across 1 counter: 3 with the line Counter 1 is now 3. Add a second counter called Cars and press its +1 five times: Cars shows 5 and the total becomes Total across 2 counters: 8.
Limits and edge cases
- You can keep up to 20 counters, with names up to 40 characters. Names are shown exactly as typed, so symbols and angle brackets are safe.
- Counts live in one browser on one device. Clearing site data or using a private window can erase them, and a second device starts empty. Use Copy counts to keep a record.
- If your browser blocks storage, the counter still works until you close the page.
- To count words and characters in text use the word counter, to time laps use the stopwatch, and to track something day by day use the habit tracker.
Frequently asked questions
What is a tally counter used for?
People use a tally counter for head counts at events, stock and inventory checks, bird and traffic counts, laps, exercise repetitions, votes and any other count where you would otherwise make tally marks. Each tap adds one, so you can keep your eyes on what you are counting.
Will my counts still be here tomorrow?
Yes, on the same browser and device. The counts are saved in your browser as you tap. They are lost if you clear site data, use a private window that discards storage, or open the page on another device.
Can I count more than one thing at once?
Yes. Add a counter for each thing, for example Cars, Bikes and Buses. You can keep up to 20 counters, and the total line adds them all up.
How do I fix a mistake?
Press the minus button to take one off. If you reset or delete a counter by accident, press Undo in the bar that appears under the counters. The count cannot go below 0.
Is there a limit to how high it can count?
Each counter stops at 999,999,999 and shows a message instead of going any higher. That is far above anything a hand count reaches.
Source: MDN, Window.localStorage (how the browser stores your counts on your device).