Character Counter
This free character counter shows characters with and without spaces as you type, plus words and live limits for X, Instagram, LinkedIn, text messages, and search results.
- Characters
- 0
- Without spaces
- 0
- Words
- 0
- Spaces
- 0
Platform Limits
- X post280 left of 280 characters. Links count as 23, emoji as 2
- Threads post500 left of 500 characters. Emoji count as their size in bytes, usually 4
- Bluesky post300 left of 300 characters
- SEO title60 left of 60 characters. Recommended maximum
- Meta description160 left of 160 characters. Recommended maximum
- YouTube title100 left of 100 characters
- Instagram caption2,200 left of 2,200 characters
- LinkedIn post3,000 left of 3,000 characters
X counts links as 23 characters and emoji as 2. Threads counts each emoji as its size in bytes.
Text Message (SMS)
- Encoding
- Standard (GSM-7)
- Message parts
- 0
- Left in this part
- 160 of 160
One text holds 160 standard characters, or 70 with emoji or other Unicode. Longer texts split into parts of 153 (or 67). Some symbols, such as € [ ] { } ~ ^ |, count as 2.
Your Limit
Set any limit, such as a form field or an application answer.
Instagram Limits
- Caption2,200 left of 2,200 characters
- Caption preview125 left of 125 characters. About 125 characters show before “…more”; varies by device
- Bio150 left of 150 characters
- Username30 left of 30 characters
- Hashtags0 of 5 hashtags used. Maximum hashtags per post or reel
The preview cutoff is approximate and varies by device.
Character Details
- Letters
- 0
- Digits
- 0
- Punctuation & symbols
- 0
- Emoji
- 0
- Sentences
- 0
- Paragraphs
- 0
- Lines
- 0
- UTF-8 bytes
- 0
About
What Is a Character Counter?
A character counter tells you exactly how long a piece of text is, measured in letters, numbers, spaces, and punctuation. It’s the number that matters whenever a platform or form sets a hard limit, from a 280-character X post to a 160-character meta description.
This online character counter works as a character counter with spaces and without them at the same time, so you can check a social post and a translation quote in one pass. It’s also a word character counter: the word count sits alongside, so you never need to switch tools.
It works as an SMS character counter, too. Phones send texts in parts, and one emoji or curly quote can cut a part from 160 characters to 70, so the text message panel shows how many parts yours needs before you hit send.
It’s a free character counter with no sign-up. For sentences, readability, and keyword density, use the full word counter.
Guide
How to Use the Character Counter
Type or paste your text into the box. The character count in your text updates with every keystroke.
Read the four totals above the box: characters, characters without spaces, words, and spaces.
Check the limits beside the box. Each bar fills as you write and turns red once you go over. Add your own under “Your Limit”.
Writing a text message? The SMS panel shows how many parts it will be sent as and which characters switch it to Unicode.
Trim until every limit you care about shows “left”, then copy your text or download it as a .txt file.
Features
Key Features
With and without spaces
A character counter including spaces and one that leaves them out, side by side, plus separate word and space totals.
Text message (SMS) checker
See whether a text fits in one message, how many parts it will be split into, and which characters (curly quotes, emoji, hidden spaces) switch it to Unicode and cut each message from 160 characters to 70.
Instagram limits built in
The Instagram character counter checks captions (2,200), the preview before “…more” (about 125), bios (150), usernames (30), and hashtags (5).
Accurate for emoji and accents
Characters are counted the way you see them, so “é” and 👍🏽 count as one each, instead of the 2 to 7 some tools report.
X, Threads, Bluesky, and SEO
X posts use X’s weighting for links and emoji, and Threads counts emoji by their size in bytes. Bluesky and LinkedIn posts, YouTube titles, SEO titles, and meta descriptions each get a live bar.
Your own limit
Type any limit, from a 250-character form field to a 650-word essay, and count characters, characters without spaces, or words against it. The setting is saved on your device; your text is not.
Use cases
Who It’s For
Social media managers
Draft posts, captions, and bios, and know before you publish whether anything will be cut off.
SEO and marketing
Keep title tags near 60 characters and meta descriptions under 160 so search results show them in full.
Students and translators
Use it as a text character counter for application forms, abstracts, and quotes priced per character.
Is this character counter online free to use?
Yes. It’s completely free, with no sign-up and no limits on length. It runs in your browser, so your text is never uploaded.
Do spaces count as characters?
On most platforms, yes. Spaces, punctuation, and line breaks all count toward limits on X, Instagram, and LinkedIn. The “Without spaces” total is useful for assignments and translation quotes that exclude whitespace.
Why does the X count differ from the character count?
X weights characters. Every link counts as 23 characters however long it is, and emoji and most Chinese, Japanese, and Korean characters count as 2. The X bar follows those rules, so it matches what X shows.
Can I use the character counter in text messages?
Yes. The Text Message (SMS) panel shows how many parts your message will be sent as. One text holds 160 standard (GSM-7) characters, or 70 if it contains emoji, curly quotes, or other Unicode characters. Longer messages split into parts of 153 or 67 characters, and a few symbols, such as € and { }, take two slots each.
Does an emoji count as one character?
In the totals here, yes: each emoji you see counts as 1, even one built from several code points, like 👍🏽. Platforms differ, though. X counts most emoji as 2, Threads counts each one by its size in bytes (usually 4), and any emoji switches a text message to Unicode. The limit bars apply each rule for you.
How long can an Instagram caption be?
Up to 2,200 characters, including spaces and emoji, and up to 5 hashtags per post or reel (Instagram lowered the limit from 30 in December 2025). Only about the first 125 characters appear before “…more”, so put the key message first. Bios are limited to 150 characters and usernames to 30.