Free Online People Counter

Counting people is different from counting things.  The pace is unpredictable, the stakes are higher — capacity limits exist for a reason — and you often can't afford to look away.  This people counter is built with that in mind: instant response to a keypress or tap, audible confirmation on every count, and color-coded display levels that tell you where you stand without reading the number.

Set a maximum occupancy, assign a warning color as you approach it, and a limit color when you hit it.  The display does the communicating so you can keep your eyes on the door.

Where to Use a People Counter

Anywhere people flow in, out, or accumulate — and the count matters:

• Event entry and attendance — Count guests through a door as they arrive.  A Count Max set to your venue capacity stops the counter at your limit and changes the display color so you know instantly when you're full.
• Room occupancy — Track how many people are in a space at any given time.  Count up on entry, count down on exit.  Set a warning level at 80% capacity so you have time to act before hitting the limit.
• Foot traffic monitoring — Count visitors to a store, exhibit, or facility over a shift or a day.  Use the save link to set up the same counter configuration each morning with one click.
• Queue management — Track how many people are waiting and how many have been served.  Count up as people join the queue, count down as they're helped.
• Classroom and venue headcounts — Quick manual headcount with a keypress per person.  The audible click confirms each count so you can move your eyes across the room without losing your place.
• Tour groups and field trips — Count group members on and off a bus, through a gate, or into a building.  The keyboard lock feature keeps the count safe while you're moving between locations.
• Protest, parade, and crowd estimation — A fast clicker for counting people moving past a fixed point.  Open multiple tabs to count in sections simultaneously and add the totals.
• Sports and recreation — Track player rotations, count spectators, or monitor participation numbers at a community event or gym session.

People Counter Features

Designed for the speed and reliability that people counting demands:

• Capacity limit with color warning — Set a Count Max and define color levels that shift the display as you approach and reach your limit.  Green at normal occupancy, yellow as a warning, red at capacity — all at a glance without reading the number.
• Count up and down — People enter and leave.  Space or Up Arrow to count up; Backspace or Down Arrow to count down.  Both directions are equally fast and equally confirmed with sound.
• Audible count confirmation — Every count registers with a sound so you can keep your attention on the door or the crowd rather than the screen.  Adjust volume or choose from 35 built-in sounds to suit your environment.
• Keyboard lock — Step away from the screen without risking an accidental count change.  Press L to lock, L again to unlock.  A padlock icon appears next to the controls as a visual reminder that the counter is secured.
• Saves your setup — Configure capacity limits, color levels, and sounds once, then save the setup using the create link icon.  Share the link with a colleague covering another entrance and they get the identical configuration instantly.
• Multiple entrances, multiple tabs — Run the people counter in separate browser tabs or windows to cover more than one entry point simultaneously.  Each tab holds its own independent count in real time.
• Works on any device — Phone, tablet, or desktop.  The display scales to fit the screen.  A tablet propped at an entrance works as well as a dedicated clicker for most people-counting tasks.

People Counter — Common Questions

Can I set a maximum occupancy limit?

Yes.  Open Settings and set Count Max to your capacity limit.  The counter will stop counting up at that number.  Combine it with a color-coded count level at the same threshold and the display turns red — or whatever color you choose — the moment you reach capacity.

There's also a natural alternative worth considering:start the counter at your capacity number and count down instead.  That way the display always shows remaining spots rather than current occupancy — when you're near zero, you know exactly how many more people you can let in.  Set Count Min to 0 to prevent it from going below empty, and assign a warning color at a low threshold like 10 or 20 so the display flags when spots are almost gone.  Which approach works better often comes down to whether your door person thinks in terms of "how many are in" versus "how many can still come in."

Can I count people both in and out?

Yes.  The counter counts up and down with equal ease.  Use the Up Arrow or Space to count someone in, and the Down Arrow or Backspace to count someone out.  The running total always reflects current occupancy.

Can two people count at the same entrance?

Not on the same counter instance — the count lives in the browser tab and isn't shared in real time between devices.  For a single entrance with two counters, assign one person to count entries and one to count exits on separate devices, then reconcile the totals.  For separate entrances, share the setup link so both devices start with the same configuration.

Will the counter work at an outdoor event without Wi-Fi?

The counter needs an internet connection to load initially, but once it's open in the browser it runs entirely in JavaScript on the device.  If your connection drops mid-event the count will continue uninterrupted as long as you don't close or refresh the tab.

How do I set up warning colors for capacity?

Open Basic Settings and configure the Count Levels section.  Define up to 6 thresholds and assign a display color to each.  For example, set the display to green below 80 people, yellow from 80 to 99, and red at 100.  The display color shifts automatically as the count crosses each threshold.

Can I lock the counter so no one changes the count while I'm away?

Yes.  Press L to lock the counter.  While locked, the up and down controls are disabled and a padlock icon appears on screen.  Press L again — or your assigned unlock key — to resume counting.  You can require a confirmation before unlocking in Advanced Settings for an extra layer of protection.

Counter Tips & Tricks

Counter Help