Character Counter
Count characters with and without spaces, plus checks against common platform limits.
How to use this tool
- Paste or type your text into the box above.
- The result updates as you change the input — there is nothing to submit and nothing to wait for.
- Read the figures in the result panel, or copy the converted text.
- Use Copy or Download if you need the output elsewhere. Nothing was uploaded at any point.
Character limits differ in what they count. Most systems count UTF-16 units, but some — X among them — count code points, so an emoji counts as one character rather than two. Both figures are shown.
Character Counter — the specification
| Characters | Total including spaces |
|---|---|
| Without spaces | Excludes all whitespace |
| Code points | How X and some platforms count |
| UTF-8 bytes | What size limits usually measure |
| Limit checks | Meta description 160, title tag 60, SMS 160 |
How it works
This tool runs entirely in your browser. There is no server involved, which means nothing you type or upload is transmitted, stored, or logged — and there are no usage limits, because there is nothing for us to ration.
You can confirm it yourself: open your browser's developer tools, select the Network tab, and use the tool. No request is made.
A worked example
Run against this page’s own code, with the real input and the real output reproduced below.
What went in
Compress a photo to 20 KB without wrecking it — here is what actually changes.
What came back
| Characters | 78 |
|---|---|
| Characters (no spaces) | 64 |
| Characters (code points) | 78 |
| Words | 15 |
| Bytes (UTF- | 8 |
| Meta description limit ( | 160 |
| Within limitTitle tag limit ( | 60 |
| overSMS segments ( | 160 |
| each) | 1 |
Everything above happened in the page as the text was typed. Nothing was sent to a server, which is why it works offline once the page has loaded and why there is no limit on how often you use it.
Who needs Character Counter
Writing meta descriptions and title tags, staying inside social character limits, and checking SMS message length before sending.
Character Counter — frequently asked questions
What is the difference between characters and code points?
Most emoji and some scripts occupy two UTF-16 units but represent a single character. Platforms that count code points treat them as one. The two figures differ only when such characters are present.
What is the meta description limit?
Google truncates around 155–160 characters on desktop, less on mobile. There is no hard limit; the tool flags 160 as a practical guide.
Why does SMS split at 160?
A standard SMS carries 160 GSM-encoded characters. Longer messages are split into segments and billed per segment.
Does this work offline?
Yes. Once the page has loaded you can disconnect from the internet and it keeps working, because all the processing happens in your browser. That is also the simplest way to confirm nothing is being sent anywhere.
Is there a limit on how much I can paste in?
Nothing we impose. The practical limit is your device’s memory, since the work happens locally. Very large inputs get slower rather than being refused.
Can I use this on a phone?
Yes. The layout adapts to a small screen and everything works the same way.
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From other categories
Background reading: Text and Developer Tools That Never Upload Your Data
Your file never leaves your device. Open your browser's Network tab while you use this page and you will see no upload — how that works.
Disclaimer. Published requirements change without notice. Confirm against the official source before you submit. Full disclaimer.