Tools
Character counter
Character counter with and without spaces
Count the characters in a text, with and without spaces, for posts, ads or meta descriptions.
About this tool
Plenty of texts are limited by characters rather than words: a meta description for Google, an ad headline, a text message, an Instagram bio, a post on X or a field on an official form. This counter shows you instantly how many characters you have used, with and without spaces, so you can trim the message to fit before it gets cut off mid-sentence.
Type or paste your text into the box. The character count is shown large at the top, with the total excluding spaces just below; the other figures (words, sentences, paragraphs, lines) stay visible in case you need them. Keep trimming and watch the number drop in real time. When you are happy, “Copy stats” copies every figure and “Clear” empties the box.
Your text is processed only in your browser and is never sent to a server. Every accented letter and every emoji counts as one character, as do line breaks and spaces. Bear in mind that some platforms count differently (for instance those that measure bytes or shorten links), so leave a small margin if the limit is strict.
Frequently asked questions
How long should a meta description be?
Google sets no hard maximum, but it usually shows around 150–160 characters on desktop and a little less on mobile. Keep the key message within the first 120 to be safe.
Do spaces count as characters?
That depends on who sets the limit. Social networks, text messages and search engines count spaces; some translation briefs and applications ask for a count without them. That is why you get both figures here.
Does an emoji count as one character?
Here, yes: each simple emoji counts as one. Some platforms count it as two, and combined emoji such as families or flags can add more depending on the service.
How many characters fit in a text message?
160 characters using the standard alphabet. Add an emoji or another special character and the message switches encoding, dropping the limit to 70.