X character counter for posts
Type or paste a post and this X character counter shows how much of the 280-character limit you've used, counting links and emoji the way X does.
Last updated
Your text stays in your browser. Nothing you paste is uploaded or stored.
How to use the X character counter
- Type or paste your post into the box.
- Watch the count update: it shows characters used and left out of 280.
- Check the hashtag and mention counts under the box.
- Trim until the bar is no longer red, then press Copy and paste the post into X.
How the X character counter works
X doesn't simply count letters. It gives each character a weight: most Latin letters, digits and punctuation count as one, while emoji and characters from scripts such as Chinese, Japanese and Korean count as two. Every link is shortened behind the scenes and counts as 23, however long the address is.
This counter follows the same weighting, so a post that looks short but has several emoji or a link can be closer to the limit than you think. Standard accounts are limited to 280 weighted characters; paid accounts can post longer text, which isn't covered here.
Formula
Weighted length = 23 × number of links + 2 × number of emoji + 1 for each light character + 2 for each other character. Characters left = 280 − weighted length.
Example
"Launch day 🚀🎉" has 11 letters and spaces plus two emoji, so X counts it as 11 + 2 + 2 = 15, leaving 265.
"Read this https://example.com/a/very/long/path" counts as 10 for the words and space plus 23 for the link, 33 in total, even though the address alone is 36 characters long.
Tips and common mistakes
Links always cost 23
Shortening a link yourself doesn't save space on X. Any address counts as 23.
Leave room for replies
When people quote or reply, mentions are added. Keeping posts a little under the limit makes them easier to share.
Writing for several networks?
Check the same text against the Instagram caption counter and the TikTok caption counter, which count emoji differently.
Long thread?
Draft longer text in the word counter first, then split it into posts of 280 or fewer.
Frequently asked questions
Why does my emoji count as two?
X gives emoji a weight of two characters, so each one uses two of your 280.
Do hashtags count toward 280?
Yes. The # sign and the tag's letters count like any other text.
What about paid accounts?
Paid subscribers can post much longer text. This counter uses the 280-character limit for standard accounts.
Is my post sent anywhere?
No. Counting happens in your browser and nothing is uploaded or stored.