What is the Character Counter?
Many places limit characters rather than words: X (Twitter) posts, SMS messages, Google titles and meta descriptions, app store listings and form fields. The character counter shows characters with and without spaces, words, lines and bytes.
Progress bars compare your text with common limits and turn red when you go over. Urdu and emoji SMS messages have a lower limit (70 characters) because they use Unicode. For word limits use the Word Counter.
How to use the Character Counter
- Type or paste your text.
- Read the character count with and without spaces.
- Check the limit bars for X, SEO title, meta description, SMS and more.
Example
A meta description of 158 characters fits Google's typical 160-character display; at 175 characters the bar turns red.
Common character limits
| Where | Limit |
|---|---|
| X (Twitter) post | 280 |
| SEO title | ~60 |
| Meta description | ~160 |
| SMS (English) | 160 |
| SMS (Urdu / Unicode) | 70 |
| Instagram caption | 2,200 |
| LinkedIn post | 3,000 |
Writing for SEO titles and meta descriptions
Google usually shows about 60 characters of a page title and 155–160 characters of a meta description. Put the main keyword near the start, keep it readable, and avoid stuffing. Paste each draft here and watch the bars: green means it fits, red means it will be cut off in search results. For longer texts measured in words, use the Word Counter.
You may also need
People who use the Character Counter often need these related tools too:
- Grade Calculator: Enter each assessment with its weight and score to see your current weighted grade, letter grade and the score you need on the remaining work to hit your target.
- Attendance Calculator: See your attendance percentage and exactly how many classes you can still miss, or must attend in a row, to stay above 75% or 80%.
- Study Time Calculator: Turn your exam date, daily study hours and subject difficulty into a balanced plan: hours per subject, minutes per day and number of 50-minute sessions.
Frequently asked questions
Do spaces count as characters?
Yes, on most platforms. The counter shows both with and without spaces.
Why is the SMS limit 70 for Urdu?
Non-Latin text uses Unicode encoding, which fits 70 characters into one SMS instead of 160.
How long should a meta description be?
About 150–160 characters so Google shows it in full.
Are emojis counted?
Yes. Some emojis count as two characters on certain platforms.
Is my text stored?
Only in your browser; it is never sent to a server.
Is the Character Counter free to use?
Yes. The Character Counter on Custom Converter is completely free, with no sign-up, no daily limit and no watermark.
Does the Character Counter work on mobile phones?
Yes. It is built mobile-first and works on Android phones, iPhones, tablets and computers in any modern browser, with no app to install.