Quick answer: Paste your text above to count characters with and without spaces. Common limits: 280 for an X post, 2,200 for an Instagram caption, about 60 for an SEO title and about 160 for a meta description. Nothing you type is uploaded.
How to use the Character Counter
- Type or paste your text into the box.
- Read the character counts, words, lines and bytes.
- Choose a limit such as X or Instagram, or enter your own, and see how many characters are left.
What the character counter measures
- Characters: every letter, number, symbol, space and line break. An emoji counts as one character here.
- Without spaces: the same count with all spaces and line breaks removed.
- Words and lines: a quick check of length and structure.
- Bytes (UTF-8): the storage size of the text. Accented letters, symbols and emoji take more than one byte.
Common character limits
Limits change and some platforms count links or emoji differently, so treat this table as a guide and confirm in the app you are posting to.
| Where | Limit | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| X (Twitter) post | 280 | Standard accounts |
| Instagram caption | 2,200 | |
| LinkedIn post | 3,000 | |
| YouTube title | 100 | |
| YouTube description | 5,000 | |
| SMS (one message) | 160 | 70 if it contains non-GSM characters |
| SEO title tag | about 60 | Guide only; Google cuts titles by pixel width |
| Meta description | about 160 | Guide only; Google may show its own snippet |
Writing for search results
Google decides how much of a title or description to show by pixel width, not by a character count, and it sometimes rewrites them. A title near 60 characters and a description near 160 characters is a sensible target, but a clear, accurate title that is a little longer is better than a vague one that fits. Put the important words first so the meaning survives if the end is cut off.
Why platform counts can differ
This tool counts what you see as one character each, including emoji. Some platforms count links, emoji or certain scripts differently, and SMS limits depend on the character set, which is why the bytes figure is shown. If you are close to a hard limit, test the text in the platform itself.
Need a word count instead?
Use the Word Counter for words, sentences, reading time and your most-used words.
Privacy
The counting happens in your browser. The text you type is not uploaded, saved or shared, and it disappears when you close or refresh the page.
Frequently asked questions
Does the character count include spaces?
Yes, the main count includes spaces and line breaks. A second figure shows the count without spaces.
Does an emoji count as one character?
Yes, in this tool an emoji counts as one character. Some platforms count emoji differently, so check the limit inside the app.
What is the best length for a meta description?
Around 160 characters is a common target, but Google decides what to show and may use its own snippet. Write a clear summary of the page.
What is the character limit for an X post?
280 characters for standard accounts, although X counts links and some characters differently.
Is my text saved or uploaded?
No. The text stays in your browser and is not sent anywhere.
Sources and references
More free tools
Last updated: November 10, 2026