Character Counter
Count characters in your text with and without spaces. Set an optional limit to track usage against platform maximums.
About Character Counter
From crafting the perfect tweet to writing SEO meta descriptions, character limits are everywhere. Our Character Counter gives you a real-time tally of every character in your text, with and without spaces, plus an optional limit tracker to keep you within bounds.
Real-time feedback
As you type or paste text into the editor, the counter updates instantly. You will see the total character count, the count excluding spaces, and - if you set a limit - a clear indicator showing how many characters remain. The display turns red when you exceed your target so you can trim immediately.
Common character limits
Social media and web platforms enforce strict maximums: Twitter/X allows 280 characters, Instagram bios cap at 150, Google truncates meta descriptions around 155-160, SMS segments split at 160, and many form fields have their own constraints. This tool lets you compose and refine your copy to fit any of them.
Use cases beyond social media
Developers check string lengths for database column limits and API payload sizes. Translators ensure localized text fits the same UI space as the source language. Students verify that abstracts and summaries meet assignment guidelines. Copywriters fine-tune headlines and calls-to-action down to the last character.
This Character Counter runs entirely in your browser with no data transmitted anywhere.
Frequently Asked Questions
What counts as a character?
Every letter, digit, punctuation mark, space, and special symbol counts as one character. Emoji may count as two or more characters because they are represented by multiple Unicode code points. The tool counts actual JavaScript string length, which matches what most web platforms use for their limits.
Why does the count differ from my word processor?
Different applications count characters differently. Some exclude spaces or newlines, others count Unicode characters instead of code units. This tool shows both totals (with and without spaces) so you can match whichever convention your target platform uses.
What is the character limit feature for?
Many platforms enforce character limits - for example, SMS messages (160), tweets (280), meta descriptions (160), and LinkedIn posts (3,000). Set a limit and the counter will show how many characters you have remaining, turning red when you exceed it.