How to use the Character Counter
Step 1: Type or paste your text into the box. The numbers update instantly.
Step 2: Read the totals for characters with spaces, characters without spaces, words, lines and paragraphs.
Step 3: Pick a limit from the list, such as a 280-character post, or enter your own number.
Step 4: Watch the progress bar and the remaining or over-limit count while you edit.
Step 5: Press Copy text to copy your text, or Clear text to start over.
Features and benefits
Every count you need
Characters with spaces, without spaces, words, lines and paragraphs, all in one place.
Limit checking
Choose a preset such as an SMS, a social post or a meta tag, or set a custom limit, and see how many characters remain.
Counts what you see
Emoji and accented letters count as one character each, the way people expect.
Instant feedback
The numbers and the progress bar change as you type.
Private
Your text never leaves your browser.
Characters with and without spaces
The first number counts everything you typed, including spaces and line breaks. The second ignores all whitespace, which is useful when a requirement says characters excluding spaces, as some academic and translation jobs do. Always check which of the two your requirement means.
Common character limits
Standard posts on X are limited to 280 characters, though the platform counts links and some characters differently. A single text message can hold 160 characters in the basic GSM alphabet, but only 70 if it contains emoji or non-Latin characters, after which it is split into several parts. Search results usually show about 60 characters of a title and about 160 of a description. Platforms change their rules from time to time, so confirm the current limit before relying on it.
How lines and paragraphs are counted
A line is any text separated by a line break, including empty lines. A paragraph is a line that contains text, so pressing Enter starts a new paragraph, the same as in a word processor. Empty lines are ignored when counting paragraphs.
Example use cases
Social media posts
Check that a post, bio or caption fits before you publish.
SMS and notifications
Keep text messages and push notifications short.
Form fields
Meet a maximum character limit on an application or a survey.
SEO snippets
Pre-check meta titles and descriptions before using the dedicated checkers.
Frequently asked questions
Do spaces count as characters?
In the first total, yes. The second total shows the count without spaces and other whitespace.
Does an emoji count as one character?
Yes. The counter measures user-perceived characters, so an emoji counts as one even though computers store it with several code units. Some platforms count emoji differently.
Why does my platform show a different number?
Platforms may count links, emoji or certain languages differently. Treat the limit check as a guide and confirm in the platform itself.
How many characters fit in a single SMS?
Typically 160 using the basic GSM alphabet, or 70 when the message contains characters outside it, such as emoji. Longer messages are split into several parts.
Is my text stored?
No. Counting happens locally in your browser.
Related tools
Useful guides
- How to Write SEO Meta Titles That Get ClickedA practical guide to writing page titles for search results: ideal length, pixel width, keyword placement, brand names, examples and mistakes to avoid.
- How to Write SEO Meta Descriptions That Earn ClicksLearn what a meta description does, how long it should be, how to write one that fits, and the mistakes that make search snippets weak or misleading.
Last updated 7 November 2026.