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The counts update as you write.
SMS character counter
Type your text message and see how many characters you have used out of 160. The counter is preset to the SMS limit, and the notes below explain segments, emoji and accents.
- Free
- No sign-up
- Runs in your browser
Most used words
100% private — your text is analysed in your browser and never sent to any server.
Next step
Keep going with your result in another tool. Nothing is uploaded.
How it works
Check the limit
The limit is already selected; change it to compare with another.
Edit until it fits
Trim the text, then copy it into your app.
How to check your character count
To check your character count, type or paste your text in the box above. The counter shows how many characters you have used against the limit already selected for this page, and warns you when you go over. Words, sentences and reading time update too. Everything is counted in your browser and nothing is uploaded.
How many characters fit in an SMS
A single SMS holds 160 characters when it uses the GSM-7 alphabet, which covers basic Latin letters, digits and common punctuation. If the text contains even one character outside that alphabet, such as an emoji or many accented capitals, the whole message is sent as Unicode (UCS-2) and the limit drops to 70 characters.
Segments and price
| Encoding | One message | Each part of a long message |
|---|---|---|
| GSM-7 (basic Latin) | 160 | 153 |
| Unicode (emoji, some accents, non-Latin) | 70 | 67 |
Long messages are split
When a message exceeds the limit it is sent as several linked parts that the phone joins again. Each part carries a small header, which is why the parts are 153 or 67 characters, not 160 or 70. Most providers bill per part, so a 200-character message costs two segments, and an emoji that pushes it into Unicode can double the cost.
Tips to stay inside one segment
- Avoid emoji and typographic quotes when every character counts.
- Replace accented capitals and special symbols where the meaning stays clear.
- Characters such as the euro sign, brackets, braces and the tilde count as two in GSM-7.
- Shorten links; a link shortener can save dozens of characters.
Private by design
Your text is processed in your browser and never sent to a server, so you can safely convert drafts, contracts, code or anything private.
Frequently asked questions
Why is my SMS limit 70 instead of 160?
Because the message contains at least one character outside the GSM-7 alphabet, such as an emoji. The whole message is then encoded as Unicode, which allows only 70 characters.
How many characters is a long SMS part?
153 characters per part in GSM-7 and 67 in Unicode, because each part reserves space for the information that joins them.
Does this counter know about GSM-7 and Unicode?
It counts characters and compares them with the 160 limit. Use the notes on this page to judge whether emoji or accents will move your message to the 70-character limit.
Is this converter free?
Yes. There is no sign-up and no limit, and it runs in your browser, so nothing you type is sent to a server.
Does it work on a phone?
Yes. It works in any modern mobile browser, and the result updates as you type.
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