280 characters remaining
Preview on X
Anything past the limit is marked, the way the composer does it.Post checker
Type a post to run the checks.Thread splitter
Turn long text into numbered posts under the limit
Cuts at paragraph breaks, then sentence ends, then words; links are never split.
Every X (Twitter) limit at a glance
| Field | Limit | Your text | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Post | 280 | 0 | Fits | Standard accounts. Links count 23, emoji and CJK 2; leading @mentions in a reply do not count. |
| Long post (Premium) | 4,000 | 0 | Fits | Paid tiers; the timeline still shows the first 280 and folds the rest behind "Show more". Some guides quote 25,000 for Premium+. |
| Long post (Premium+) | 25,000 | 0 | Fits | The upper figure quoted for the top tier; the fold at 280 applies either way. |
| Bio | 160 | 0 | Fits | Spaces, emoji, and line breaks all count. |
| Display name | 50 | 0 | Fits | Any characters, including styled Unicode. |
| Handle (@username) | 15 | 0 | Fits | 4 to 15 letters, numbers, or underscores; "twitter" and "admin" are not allowed. |
| Direct message | 10,000 | 0 | Fits | Per message. |
| Image alt text | 1,000 | 0 | Fits | Per image, from the image description field. |
| Poll option | 25 | 0 | Fits | 2 to 4 options, 25 characters each; polls run 5 minutes to 7 days. |
| List name | 25 | 0 | Fits | Cannot start with a number. |
| List description | 100 | 0 | Fits | Optional. |
Limits are the 2026 consensus of the published guides (help.x.com blocks automated readers). Where guides disagree (long posts 4,000 vs 25,000), both are listed; the timeline folds every post at 280.
How it works
The Twitter Character Counter counts your text the way X does, entirely in your browser. A generic counter says a link is as long as its letters and an emoji is one character; X says a link is 23, an emoji or a Chinese character is 2, and the @mentions at the top of a reply are free. This page applies those rules (the twitter-text rules X publishes for developers), shows the exact point where a post crosses 280 inside the preview, and checks the same text against every other X field: bio, display name, handle, DM, alt text, poll option, and list fields.
- Post checker: twelve plain-text rules that cost posts before anyone reads them (over the limit, hashtag piles, links in the post, caps, engagement bait, no line breaks, and more), each with a one-line fix.
- Thread splitter: long text into numbered posts under the limit, cut at paragraphs, sentences, then words, links never broken, Copy per post or Copy all.
- Limits table: the same text against every X limit at once.
Nothing is uploaded; your latest text and settings are remembered only in your own browser. The Twitter Font Generator styles the text, and the Twitter Thread Generator writes a thread from a topic.
What you will see
- X count + gauge
- Your text against the selected field, counted X's way for posts (weighted) and by characters for the other fields. Amber from 85% of the limit, red once over.
- Fits in
- The X field you are writing for; pick a preset or "Custom limit".
- This is a reply
- Drops the @mentions at the start of the text from the count, as X does for the Replying-to line.
- Preview on X
- An X-style post card; everything past the limit is highlighted, links are underlined.
- Stats
- X count, plain characters, words, links, mentions, hashtags, emoji, and lines for the same text.
- Post checker
- One row per rule with a pass or warning pill and the fix.
- Thread splitter
- Numbered post cards with their own X count and Copy buttons.
Frequently asked questions
How many characters can a post on X (Twitter) have?
280 for standard accounts, counted the way X counts: every link is 23 characters no matter how long, most emoji and Chinese, Japanese, and Korean characters are 2, and the @mentions at the start of a reply do not count. Premium subscribers can write long posts (guides quote 4,000 for Premium and 25,000 for Premium+), but the timeline shows only the first 280 and folds the rest behind "Show more", so the 280 line still decides what people see.
Why is the count here different from a plain character counter?
Because X weighs characters. A plain counter says a 60-character link is 60; X says 23. It says an emoji is 1; X says 2, and the same for CJK text. This counter applies X's rules (the twitter-text rules X publishes for developers), so the number matches the composer, and the preview marks the exact point where the post crosses the line.
Do links count against the limit?
Yes, at 23 characters each, because X wraps every link in its t.co shortener. That applies to links with or without https://, and to a bare domain such as example.com. A link never counts more than 23, so a long URL costs no more than a short one.
What are the other X character limits?
Bio 160, display name 50, handle 4 to 15 (letters, numbers, underscores), direct message 10,000, image alt text 1,000, poll option 25 (2 to 4 options), list name 25, list description 100. Pick any of them from the "Fits in" menu, or set a custom limit; the table under the stats checks your text against all of them at once.
What does the post checker look for?
The things that hurt a post before anyone reads it: going over the limit (or over 280 in a long post, where the fold hides the rest), more than two hashtags, a link in the post (many accounts put the link in the first reply instead), ALL CAPS, engagement-bait phrases such as "like and repost" or "follow for follow" that X down-ranks, a long post with no line breaks, starting with an @mention outside a reply, a pile of emoji, repeated punctuation, and stray double spaces. Each is a rule about the text with a one-line fix; none of them claims a number for reach.
How do I split a long text into a thread?
Paste the whole text and open the thread splitter (it opens by itself once the text passes 280). It cuts at paragraph breaks first, then sentence ends, then words, never inside a link, keeps every post under the limit you pick (280, or 275 to leave room for edits), and numbers them 1/5, 2/5 at the end or the start. Copy one post at a time as you publish the thread, or Copy all to paste them into a scheduling tool. The Twitter Thread Generator writes a thread from a topic instead.
Do mentions count in a reply?
Not the ones at the start. When you reply, X shows "Replying to @a @b" above the box and those handles are not part of your 280. Tick "This is a reply" and the counter drops the leading @mentions the same way; a mention in the middle of the text still counts as its letters.
Is the Twitter character counter free, and is my text private?
Completely free, no signup, and nothing connects to your X account. Everything is counted locally in your browser, so your text is never uploaded; your latest text and settings are remembered only in your own browser so they survive a reload.