What this character counter does
Characters are the strictest currency in modern writing. A post is allowed 280 of them; a text message segment holds 160; a form field says "maximum 500 characters" and leaves you guessing whether spaces count. This tool answers every version of the question at once: total characters including spaces and line breaks, characters with no spaces at all, and — because they are usually wanted in the same breath — words, sentences, paragraphs and lines. All six numbers update as you type, delete or paste, so you can trim a draft down to its limit character by character instead of guessing, submitting, and being scolded by a red error message.
If you need reading time and word-count detail as well, the companion Word Counter shows the same style of live statistics with a speaking-time estimate. The two tools count identically; this one simply puts characters first, because that is what limits are made of.
Common character limits
| Where | Limit | Spaces count? |
|---|---|---|
| X (formerly Twitter) post | 280 characters | Yes |
| SMS text message (one segment) | 160 characters | Yes |
| Google search result title | about 50–60 characters shown | Yes |
| Google meta description | about 155–160 characters shown | Yes |
| LinkedIn headline | 220 characters | Yes |
| College application essay (Common App) | 650 words | Words, not characters |
When a limit does not say whether spaces count, assume they do — almost every system counts them, because a space is a character like any other. The no-spaces figure above is there for the minority of forms (and a few print traditions) that exclude them, and for translators and typesetters who are paid by characters-without-spaces in some markets.
How the counting works
- Characters: every character counts, including spaces, punctuation and the line-break at the end of each line.
- Characters (no spaces): all whitespace — spaces, tabs and line breaks — removed before counting.
- Words: runs of characters separated by whitespace. "Well-known" is one word; numbers count as words.
- Sentences: text split at full stops, question marks and exclamation marks; a final fragment without punctuation still counts, and abbreviations such as "Dr." can occasionally register an extra break, so read it as a close estimate.
- Paragraphs: blocks separated by a blank line.
- Lines: lines as they appear in the box — every press of Enter starts a new one.
One practical warning: text pasted from a word processor sometimes carries hidden extras — double spaces after full stops, a trailing space at the end of a line, or a non-breaking space that looks identical to an ordinary one. All of them count, here and on the platform you are submitting to, which is why the honest method is always the same: paste the final text into this box and trust the numbers it shows you.
Frequently asked questions
Do spaces count as characters?
Usually, yes. Most platforms and forms count every character including spaces, which is why this tool shows the full count first. The 'Characters (no spaces)' figure covers the forms and payment conventions that exclude whitespace.
Why do two counters give me different numbers?
Almost always because of line breaks, trailing spaces, or how a counter treats a paste from a word processor (which may smuggle in extra spaces or a non-breaking space). This counter counts exactly what is in the box — paste your final text here before submitting anywhere.
Does an emoji count as one character?
Not always. Many emoji are stored as two or more code units, and some — like family or flag emoji — are several emoji joined together, so they can add 2–7 to the character count. If you are writing to a tight limit, count your text with the emoji included, as you see it here.
Is my text uploaded or saved?
No. Counting happens in your browser, on your device. Nothing is sent to a server, stored or visible to anyone else.
Private by design: this counter runs entirely in your browser. Text you paste here is never uploaded, stored or shared.