Social Media

Twitter Character Counter

Count characters for Twitter/X posts. See remaining characters and split long text into threads automatically.

Quick Answer

Twitter/X allows 280 characters per post. URLs count as 23 characters regardless of length. Emojis count as 2 characters. If your text exceeds 280 characters, the thread splitter below will break it into optimal posts.

0 characters0 words
280 remaining

About This Tool

The Twitter Character Counter helps you compose posts that fit within Twitter/X’s 280-character limit. For longer content, the tool automatically splits your text into a thread with individually counted posts. This saves you the manual work of copying text into multiple drafts and counting characters for each one.

How Twitter Counts Characters

Twitter uses a weighted character counting system. Most standard characters count as 1. CJK characters (Chinese, Japanese, Korean) count as 2. Emojis count as 2 due to their Unicode encoding. URLs are always counted as 23 characters regardless of actual length because Twitter shortens all links through its t.co service. @mentions count their full length including the @ symbol. Hashtags count their full length including the # symbol.

Thread Best Practices

Effective Twitter threads hook readers with the first post, deliver value in each subsequent post, and end with a clear takeaway or call to action. Number your posts (1/, 2/, etc.) so readers know the thread length. Leave room for the thread indicator. Keep each post self-contained enough that it makes sense even if someone sees it without context from the previous posts.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do URLs count toward the character limit?
Yes, but all URLs are counted as 23 characters regardless of their actual length. Twitter shortens all links through t.co. This means a 100-character URL and a 10-character URL both count the same.
Do emojis count as one character?
No, most emojis count as 2 characters due to their Unicode encoding. Some complex emojis (like family emojis or flag emojis) may count as even more because they are composed of multiple Unicode code points joined together.
What about Twitter Blue/Premium extended tweets?
Twitter Premium subscribers can post up to 25,000 characters, but only the first 280 characters show in the feed. Readers must tap to expand longer posts. For maximum visibility, keep your key message in the first 280 characters.
How long should a thread be?
Research suggests 3-7 posts is the sweet spot for engagement. Threads shorter than 3 posts may not provide enough value, while threads longer than 10 posts lose most readers. Front-load the most important information in the first 2-3 posts.
Can I include images in threaded posts?
Yes, images do not count toward the character limit. Adding images to thread posts significantly increases engagement and makes the thread more visually appealing in the timeline.