The pseudorapidity (η) and transverse-momentum (pT) distributions of charged particles produced in proton–proton collisions are measured at the centre-of-mass energy √s = 13 TeV. The pseudorapidity distribution in |η| < 1.8 is reported for inelastic events and for events with at least one charged particle in |η| < 1. The pseudorapidity density of charged particles produced in the pseudorapidity region |η| < 0.5 is 5.31 ± 0.18 and 6.46 ± 0.19 for the two event classes, respectively. The transverse-momentum distribution of charged particles is measured in the range 0.15 < pT < 20 GeV/c and |η| < 0.8 for events with at least one charged particle in |η| < 1. The evolution of the transverse momentum spectra of charged particles is also investigated as a function of event multiplicity. The results are compared with calculations from PYTHIA and EPOS Monte Carlo generators.