Twitter/X Character Counter
Count characters for Twitter/X posts with our free online tool. See real-time character count, remaining characters, hashtags, mentions, and URLs. Optimized for Twitter's 280 character limit and URL weighting.
Frequently Asked Questions
Twitter (now X) allows up to 280 characters per tweet. This limit was increased from 140 characters in 2017. Some languages like Japanese, Korean, and Chinese had effectively longer limits due to character density.
Twitter counts all URLs as 23 characters, regardless of their actual length. This is because Twitter automatically shortens URLs using its t.co service. So a 100-character URL counts the same as a 10-character one.
Yes, hashtags count toward the 280 character limit, including the # symbol. Each character in the hashtag is counted normally. Consider using shorter hashtags to save space.
No, images, videos, GIFs, and polls do not count toward Twitter's character limit. You can attach media without reducing your available text space.
Mentions (@username) count toward the 280 character limit, with each character in the username plus the @ symbol counted. In reply tweets, all mentioned usernames appear at the start but don't count toward your limit if you're replying directly. However, additional mentions you add manually do count.
While you have 280 characters, tweets between 70-100 characters typically see the highest engagement rates. Shorter tweets are easier to read, retweet with commentary, and quote. Save space for visual elements and calls-to-action. Use threads for longer thoughts rather than cramming everything into one tweet.
Most standard emojis count as 2 characters on Twitter/X, though some complex emojis (like flags or skin-tone modifiers) may count as more. Using many emojis can quickly consume your character budget. Test your tweet with our counter to see the exact count before posting.
Maximize your message by: using abbreviations strategically, removing unnecessary words like articles, leveraging shortened URLs (they all count as 23), using numbers instead of spelling them out, choosing concise synonyms, and putting detailed information in quote tweets or threads. Front-load important information in case readers don't finish.
Twitter counts characters the same way for all languages, but character efficiency varies. Languages like Chinese, Japanese, and Korean convey more meaning per character, giving effectively more space. Romance languages and English use more characters for the same concepts. Consider your primary audience's language when crafting international content.
Twitter prevents posting tweets over 280 characters - the tweet button becomes inactive. You must either trim your content, remove elements, or split it into a thread. Use our character counter to optimize before attempting to post. For longer thoughts, consider threads (multiple connected tweets) or linking to a blog post.