Twitter / X Character Counter
Count your post the way X does, with weighted characters.
Every link counts as 23, emoji count as 2 or more, against the 280 limit, with a thread split for longer posts.
X-weighted count: every URL counts as 23 characters (t.co wrapping) and emoji count as 2 or more. These are close approximations of X’s counting, not byte-exact. Media and alt text do not count.
How does X count characters?
A Twitter / X character counter measures a post the way X does, which is not the same as counting plain characters. X uses a weighted count, so the number that matters depends on what you put in the post. Type or paste your post into the box above and the tool shows the weighted length, how much is left, the number of links and any emoji weight, live as you type. It runs entirely in your browser, so your post never leaves your device.
The standard limit is 280 characters for a normal post, reply or quote, and that is still the default in 2026. X Premium allows long-form posts of up to 25,000 characters, but the timeline shows only the first part behind a Show more link, so 280 is still the limit most posts are written to. Two rules make the weighted count different from a plain count. Every link counts as 23 characters, no matter how long, because X wraps it in its t.co shortener; a short link and a giant link cost the same 23. And most emoji count as 2, because they are surrogate pairs, while complex emoji built from several joined parts, such as a family or a skin-toned person, cost the sum of their parts and so weigh more than 2. Plain letters, digits and punctuation each count as 1.
A few things do not count. Attaching media such as an image, video, GIF or poll uses none of your character budget, and the alt text on an image does not count either. The leading @mentions at the very start of a reply also do not count against the limit on X; this tool counts the body text you type, so write the post here and treat those leading reply mentions separately. These rules are close approximations of X’s real tokenizer, especially the way it decides what is a link, so treat the numbers as accurate guidance rather than byte-exact.
When a post goes over 280, you can either use Premium long-form or split it into a thread. This tool shows a thread preview that breaks your text into numbered posts, each within the limit and never cutting a word, a link or an emoji in half, so you can copy them out in order. This is a different job from the general character counter; for other platform limits see the SMS character counter, the meta description checker and the title tag checker. This page is the one to count an X post with weighted characters and split it into a thread. Everything runs in your browser with no account and nothing to install.
X Weighted Counting Examples
| Post | Weighted | URLs | Fits in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plain text Just shipped a new feature. | 27 | 0 | 1 post |
| Text with a link Read the post https://example.com/a/very/long/... | 37 | 1 | 1 post |
| Text with an emoji Launch day 🚀 | 13 | 0 | 1 post |
| Over the limit (threads) A 400-word-ish post over 280 | 399 | 0 | 2 posts |
*Every row is produced by the same engine this page uses. Note how a long link counts as just 23 and an emoji adds 2, and how a post over 280 splits into a thread. The weighting is a close approximation of X’s counting.
Features of Our Twitter / X Character Counter
280 Count
Counts as 23
as 2 or More
Splitter
25,000 Mode
Post
& Private
Frequently Asked Questions
Click any question to read the answer.
How many characters can a tweet or X post have?
A standard post, reply or quote on X holds 280 characters, which is still the default in 2026. X Premium subscribers can write long-form posts of up to 25,000 characters, though the timeline shows only the first part behind a Show more link. This tool counts against the 280 limit by default and has a Premium mode for the 25,000 limit.
Do links count toward the character limit?
Yes, but at a fixed cost. X wraps every link in its t.co shortener, so any URL counts as exactly 23 characters no matter how long it is. A 12-character link and a 300-character link both cost 23. This tool detects links and charges each one 23, so you see the real weighted length.
Do emoji count as two characters?
Most emoji count as 2, because they are encoded as a surrogate pair. More complex emoji built from several joined parts, such as a family or a skin-toned person, count as the sum of their parts, so they cost more than 2. Plain letters, digits and punctuation count as 1. This tool applies that weighting as you type.
What is the X Premium character limit?
X Premium allows long-form posts of up to 25,000 characters. In the timeline the post is truncated to about 280 characters with a Show more link, and the full text opens on the post page. Switch this tool to Premium mode to count against the 25,000 limit instead of 280.
Do images, videos or polls count toward the limit?
No. Attaching media such as an image, a video, a GIF or a poll does not use any of your character budget, and alt text on an image does not count either. Only the text of the post counts, which is what this tool measures.
How do I post something longer than 280 characters?
Either subscribe to Premium for long-form posts, or split your text into a thread of several posts. When your text goes over 280, this tool shows a thread preview that splits it into numbered parts, each within the limit and never breaking a word, a link or an emoji, so you can copy them out in order.
Do mentions and hashtags count?
Hashtags and mentions in the body of a post count as normal text. One detail: the leading @mentions at the very start of a reply do not count against the limit on X, but this tool counts the text you enter, so write the body here and treat leading reply mentions separately.
Is my post stored when I use this tool?
No. The tool runs entirely as JavaScript inside your browser, so your post is never uploaded, logged, or sent to a server. The page keeps working offline once it has loaded, and nothing you type leaves your device. You can draft a private post with no privacy risk at all.