How to use the character counter
- Type or paste your text — counts update instantly.
- Watch the platform limit bars to stay within range.
Popular character limits
- X / Twitter post: 280
- SEO title: ~60
- Meta description: ~160
- Instagram caption: 2,200
Benefits
- Shows character counts with and without spaces, live as you type.
- Displays the limits for common platforms so you know when you are over.
- Runs in your browser — your text is never uploaded.
- Free and unlimited.
Limitations to know
- Some platforms count certain things differently — a link may count as a fixed length, and one emoji can count as several characters.
- It counts characters, not the more complex "grapheme" rules some systems use for combined emoji.
- It does not estimate reading time or word count.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Assuming X (Twitter) counts a full URL — it uses a fixed shortened length instead.
- Mixing up whether a limit includes or excludes spaces.
- Pasting hidden formatting characters from a rich-text source that inflate the count.
Alternatives
For word-based limits use the Word Counter; to strip stray line breaks from pasted text use Remove Line Breaks; and to fix capitalization use the Case Converter.
Last updated: August 2026 · Reviewed by the AI Toolbox editorial team.
Frequently asked questions
Is my text stored?
No — counting happens entirely in your browser.
Is it free?
Yes, completely free with no sign-up.