Paste or type your text. The page counts characters with and without spaces as you write, shows how many text messages it would take, and tells you where a limit cuts it off. Nothing is uploaded.
- Characters count with and without spaces, and line breaks are not counted.
- An emoji counts as one character here. Some sites count it as two, so check the form you are using.
- One plain text message holds 160 characters. One emoji or curly quote drops that to 70.
- Your text stays in this browser. It is never sent to us.
Your character counter
About this counter
Your text is counted in this browser and saved only on this device. It is never sent to us. An emoji counts as one character here, and line breaks are not counted.
- Letters
- 0
- Digits
- 0
- Spaces
- 0
- Punctuation and symbols
- 0
- Bytes (UTF-8)
- 0
- SMS length
- 0
What you get
- Live counts
- Characters with and without spaces, words and lines, all while you type.
- Limits with a cut point
- Pick a limit and see how many characters are left. If you go over, the page shows where the limit cuts, and one button trims the text to fit.
- Breakdown
- Letters, digits, spaces, punctuation and symbols, and the size in bytes.
- SMS messages
- How many text messages the text needs, and whether it will go as standard or Unicode.
- Selection count
- Highlight part of your text to count only that part.
- Keeps your text
- The box saves in your browser, so a closed tab does not lose your draft.
How the counts work
Counters make small choices, and they are the reason two tools can give two answers. These are ours.
| Item | The rule | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Characters | Letters, digits, spaces, punctuation and symbols. Line breaks are not counted. An emoji is one. | 30 in the sample |
| Characters without spaces | The same, with every space, tab and non-breaking space left out | 26 in the sample |
| Letters and digits | Letters in any alphabet, and numbers | 20 letters, 3 digits |
| Lines | Pieces of text separated by a line break | 2 in the sample |
| Bytes | Storage in UTF-8. A plain letter is 1, an accented letter 2, an emoji 4 | 34 in the sample |
The sample used above has two lines: Hello, World! 😀 123 / Second line
Character limits you may be writing for
Many forms and apps cap the length of a post. These are the limits for standard accounts, and the buttons under the text box set each one for you.
| Where | Limit | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|
| X post (standard accounts) | 280 characters | Emoji and some other characters count as 2, and a link counts as a fixed length. |
| Instagram caption | 2,200 characters | Only the first lines show before "more". |
| LinkedIn post | 3,000 characters | Includes spaces, emoji and line breaks. |
| UCAS personal statement | 4,000 characters | Including spaces. |
| One SMS, standard text | 160 characters | Falls to 70 if any character is outside the GSM-7 set. |
| One SMS, in a longer message | 153 characters | Each part of a multi-part text carries 7 fewer, or 67 in Unicode. |
Always check the counter on the form or app itself, because it is the one that decides. Leave a small margin.
How text messages are counted
A standard text holds 160 characters from the GSM-7 set, which covers plain English letters, digits and common punctuation. If your message is longer, it is split into parts of 153 characters, because each part needs a few characters for the header that puts the parts back together.
One character outside that set, such as an emoji or a curly quote, switches the whole message to Unicode. A Unicode text holds 70 characters, or 67 per part when it is split. A few characters, including the euro sign and square brackets, take two places each.
| Text | Characters | Encoding | Messages | Per message (single / part) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plain text | 160 | GSM-7 | 1 | 160 / 153 |
| One character over | 161 | GSM-7 | 2 | 160 / 153 |
| A euro sign counts double | 81 | GSM-7 | 2 | 160 / 153 |
| One emoji in the text | 14 | UCS-2 | 1 | 70 / 67 |
The counter above shows the same numbers for your own text. Carriers can differ, so treat the result as a close estimate.
Why your count may differ from another tool
The biggest causes are line breaks and emoji. Some tools count a line break as a character, and some count an emoji as two because it is stored in two pieces. Accented letters can differ too, depending on how the text was typed. If a form has its own counter, trust that one.
Three ways to fit a limit
- Put your key point first. On some platforms only the opening lines show before “more”.
- Cut filler words before you cut meaning. Phrases like “in order to” and “very” often go without loss.
- Use the limit cut point. It shows the exact spot where your text runs out, so you can decide what to trim.
Questions students ask
What counts as a character?
Every letter, digit, space, punctuation mark and symbol counts. Line breaks do not. An emoji counts as one character on this page.
Why does another site give a different count for my text?
Sites disagree about line breaks, emoji and accented letters. Some count an emoji as two characters because of how it is stored. If a form has its own counter, trust that one and leave a small margin.
Do spaces count as characters?
Yes, in "Characters". The page also shows "Characters without spaces" if a form asks for that.
How does the SMS count work?
A standard text can hold 160 characters from the GSM-7 set. A longer message is split into parts of 153. If any character falls outside that set, such as an emoji or a curly quote, the whole message switches to Unicode, which holds 70 characters, or 67 per part when split. Characters like the euro sign and square brackets take two places each.
Is my text private?
Yes. The counting happens in your browser. Your text is saved only on your own device so you can come back to it, and it is never sent to us.
What are bytes, and why do they differ from characters?
Bytes measure how much storage the text takes. A plain English letter is one byte, an accented letter is usually two, and an emoji is four.
What is the character limit for X, Instagram and LinkedIn?
Standard accounts can post 280 characters on X, 2,200 in an Instagram caption and 3,000 in a LinkedIn post. Platforms change these, so check the app before you publish.
