🔡 Character Counter
Type or paste to count characters instantly — with a live check against common platform limits (X posts, SMS, meta descriptions).
Characters
0
Without spaces
0
Words
0
Lines
0
Platform limits
- X / Twitter post280 left
- SMS (single, GSM)160 left
- Google title (approx.)60 left
- Meta description (approx.)158 left
- Instagram caption2200 left
- YouTube title100 left
How the character counter works
The count updates per keystroke, both including and excluding spaces. The limits panel compares your text against widely used platform caps — 280 characters for a standard X/Twitter post, 160 for a single GSM SMS, about 60 characters before Google typically truncates a title, and about 155–160 for meta descriptions.
Two caveats worth knowing: platforms count some characters specially (X counts every URL as 23 characters; emoji often count as 2), and SMS switches from 160-character GSM encoding to 70-character Unicode the moment you include an emoji or special symbol. Treat the limits as guidance and the platform’s own composer as the referee.
Frequently asked questions
Do spaces count as characters?
Yes, in virtually every platform limit (X, SMS, meta tags). This counter shows both figures — with and without spaces — because style guides sometimes ask for the latter.
How long can an X (Twitter) post be?
280 characters for standard accounts (URLs count as 23 regardless of length; most emoji count as 2). Premium subscribers can post far longer — but only the first 280 show before "Show more".
Why did my SMS split after adding an emoji?
An emoji forces the message from GSM-7 encoding (160 characters) to UCS-2 (70 characters). Multi-part messages then carry 153 or 67 characters per segment.
How long should a meta description be?
Google truncates by pixel width, not characters — about 155–160 characters usually fits on desktop. Front-load the important words; there is no penalty for longer text, it just gets cut visually.
Is my text uploaded to count it?
No — everything runs locally in your browser and works offline. Nothing is transmitted or stored.