Character counter
Count characters and see how your text fits the limits of posts, SEO titles, meta descriptions and text messages.
0/ 280280 left
X counts every link as 23 characters, and characters such as Chinese, Japanese and Korean as two.
Counted in your browser. Your text is never sent or stored.
Counts
- Characters
- 0
- Without spaces
- 0
- Words
- 0
- Lines
- 0
Limits at a glance
Character limits for common platforms
Limits change from time to time, but these are the ones in use for standard accounts:
| Where | Limit | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| X (Twitter) post | 280 | Links always count as 23 characters. |
| Bluesky post | 300 | Counted as characters you see, so an emoji is one. |
| Threads and Mastodon posts | 500 | Some Mastodon servers allow longer posts. |
| Instagram caption | 2,200 | Only the first line or two show before "more". |
| LinkedIn post | 3,000 | The first ~200 characters decide whether people click "see more". |
| YouTube title | 100 | Search results often show only the first 60–70. |
| Page title (SEO) | ~60 | Measured in pixels, so wide letters use more room. |
| Meta description (SEO) | ~155–160 | Shorter on mobile. Put the key point first. |
| Text message (SMS) | 160 / 70 | 70 when the message contains emoji or special characters. |
How characters are counted
TextCountr counts characters the way you see them. Letters, numbers, punctuation, spaces and line breaks all count, and an emoji or an accented letter counts as one character, even if a computer stores it as several codes.
Most modern platforms, including Bluesky, count the same way. A few have special rules: X counts links as 23 characters and some characters as two, and text messages count GSM characters, where symbols like € [ ] { } ^ ~ | \ take two places. Choose Text message (SMS) above to see the exact number of messages your text needs.
Tips for writing to a limit
- Cut filler words first: "very", "really", "in order to", "that".
- Use numerals ("3" not "three") and common abbreviations where your audience knows them.
- Put the key message in the first 100 characters. Feeds, search results and notifications often show only that.
- Check again after editing links or hashtags, which add up fast.
More tools
Other ways to measure your text
Word counterWords, sentences, paragraphs, reading time and keyword density. Reading time calculatorHow long your text takes to read or say out loud, at the pace you choose.
Frequently asked questions
Do spaces count as characters?
Yes, almost everywhere. Social networks, SEO tools and text messages all count spaces and line breaks. The count without spaces is mainly used for translation and publishing quotes.
Does an emoji count as one character?
On screen, yes, and TextCountr counts it as one. Some platforms count differently behind the scenes: X counts most emoji as two, and in a text message an emoji switches the whole message to Unicode, which lowers the limit per message from 160 to 70.
Why do text messages have a 160-character limit?
Standard SMS uses the GSM-7 alphabet, which fits 160 characters in one message. If your text contains a character outside that alphabet, such as an emoji or many accented letters, it is sent as Unicode instead, with 70 characters per message. Longer texts are split into parts of 153 or 67 characters.
How long should a meta description be?
Aim for 120–155 characters. Google shows about 150–160 characters on desktop and fewer on mobile, and cuts the rest off with an ellipsis. Put the most important words first.
How long should a page title be?
Keep it under about 60 characters so Google shows it in full. Google actually limits titles by pixel width, so a title with many wide letters (like W or M) gets cut off sooner.
Is my text stored anywhere?
No. Characters are counted in your browser, and your text is never sent to a server or saved. It is gone when you close the page.