Free Writing tool
X (Twitter) Character Counter
Live count against the 280 and 25,000-char limits, with thread splitting.
Paste or type your post above to see a live character count for X (Twitter). The counter shows your usage against the standard 280-character limit and the 25,000-character limit available to X Premium subscribers, and flags the exact point where a post needs to become a thread.
X counts characters using a weighted system, not a naive string length: most Latin letters, numbers and punctuation count as 1, while CJK characters (Chinese, Japanese, Korean) count as 2, and every URL is normalized to 23 characters regardless of its real length. This counter mirrors that behaviour so your draft never gets unexpectedly rejected.
What is the character limit on X (Twitter) in 2026?
The default character limit for a single post on X is 280 characters. X Premium (and Premium+) subscribers can publish long-form posts up to 25,000 characters, but only the first 280 render in the timeline before a "Show more" fold โ so the first 280 characters still carry the entire job of earning the click.
Because of this, the practical limit that matters for reach is still 280. Treat anything beyond it as "below the fold" content that only your most engaged readers will expand.
How X counts characters (the weighted rules)
- Standard Latin letters, digits, spaces and most punctuation: 1 character each.
- CJK and many non-Latin scripts: 2 characters each.
- Every URL counts as exactly 23 characters, no matter how long or short the real link is.
- Emoji typically count as 2 characters, and emoji with modifiers (skin tone, ZWJ sequences) can count for more.
- @mentions count their full visible length; hashtags count as written.
Why character count matters for reach
The opening line of a post is the single biggest lever on whether it gets read. On X, the first ~70โ100 characters are what shows in dense feeds, notifications and search previews. Front-load the hook, keep the first sentence under the fold-free zone, and use the remaining characters to deliver โ not to warm up.
For threads, each individual post still obeys the 280-character limit. The thread splitter below turns a long draft into clean, numbered tweets that each stay within the limit.
Frequently asked questions
How many characters can a tweet have in 2026?
A standard post on X (Twitter) allows 280 characters. X Premium subscribers can post up to 25,000 characters as long-form content, but only the first 280 characters appear in the timeline before a "Show more" fold.
Do links count toward the X character limit?
Yes. Every URL is automatically shortened by X to a t.co link and counts as exactly 23 characters, regardless of the original link length.
Do emoji count as more than one character on X?
Most emoji count as 2 characters. Emoji that use modifiers such as skin-tone or zero-width-joiner sequences (for example family or profession emoji) can count for more.
Is this Twitter character counter free?
Yes โ it runs entirely in your browser, requires no sign-up, and never sends your draft anywhere. It is free forever.