SMS Character Counter
Count SMS characters, words, message parts, encoding, and remaining characters instantly with this free online SMS character counter.
Check Your SMS Length
Understand Your SMS at a Glance
Check the important details behind your message without leaving the tool.
Standard SMS Limit
A standard GSM-7 message can usually contain up to 160 characters in a single SMS segment. Our SMS character counter helps you see how much space your message uses.
Unicode SMS Limit
Messages containing many emojis, special characters, or non-Latin writing systems may use Unicode encoding and have a different character limit.
Message Parts
Longer messages may be divided into multiple SMS parts. The SMS parts calculator gives you a quick estimate based on your message length and encoding.
What Does an SMS Character Counter Check?
An SMS character counter analyzes your message while you type or paste text into the tool. It counts characters and words, identifies the message encoding, estimates SMS parts, and shows the remaining characters available within the current limit.
This makes it easier to prepare short text messages, alerts, notifications, reminders, and other mobile communication before sending them.
GSM-7 vs Unicode SMS
The characters you use can change how many characters fit into one SMS.
Standard SMS Encoding
GSM-7 is commonly used for standard Latin letters, numbers, and supported symbols. A single SMS can usually contain up to 160 characters when this encoding is used.
Special Characters & Emojis
Unicode encoding may be used when a message contains emojis, special symbols, or characters from many non-Latin writing systems. This can reduce the number of characters available in one SMS.
How to Use This SMS Character Counter
Check your message in three simple steps.
Enter Your Message
Type your message or paste existing text into the SMS character counter.
Review the Results
Instantly see characters, words, encoding, SMS parts, and remaining characters.
Optimize Your SMS
Edit your message if needed and use the available tools to copy, share, or download your results.
Make Every SMS Easier to Plan
A quick character check can help you prepare clearer and more efficient messages.
Avoid Unexpected SMS Parts
Check your message length before sending it and see when your text may extend beyond a single SMS part.
Get Instant Results
The live SMS character counter updates as you type, so you do not need to count characters manually.
Check SMS Encoding
See whether your message is using standard GSM-7 text or Unicode characters that may affect the available SMS length.
Prepare Better Messages
Use the results to shorten, improve, and organize your message before copying or sharing it.
SMS Character Limits at a Glance
The maximum length of an SMS depends on the type of characters used in your message. Standard GSM-7 text generally allows more characters in a single SMS than Unicode text.
When a message becomes longer than the available single-message limit, it may be divided into multiple connected SMS parts. This is why checking your SMS character count before sending can be useful.
Useful for Different Types of SMS
Check everyday texts before sending them.
Plan concise customer and team communications.
Review alerts and updates for message length.
Check promotional messages before publishing.
Learn More About SMS Technology
SMS Character Counter FAQ
Quick answers about SMS characters, limits, encoding, and message parts.
An SMS character counter is an online tool that counts the characters and words in a message. It can also help estimate the SMS encoding, message parts, and remaining characters available within the current SMS limit.
A standard GSM-7 SMS can generally contain up to 160 characters in a single message. Unicode messages, which may contain emojis or special characters, generally have a lower single-message limit of up to 70 characters.
Your message may use Unicode when it contains characters that are not supported by the standard GSM-7 character set. Emojis, special symbols, and many non-Latin characters can cause a message to use Unicode encoding.
A longer message may be divided into multiple connected SMS parts. The available characters per part can change depending on whether the message uses GSM-7 or Unicode encoding.
Yes. The tool checks the characters in your message and can identify when the text requires Unicode encoding, which is commonly used for emojis and many special characters.
Yes. After entering your message, you can use the available buttons to copy the text, select the message, share it, or download a report containing the message counting details.
Count Your SMS Characters Instantly
Enter your message above to check its character count, word count, encoding, SMS parts, and remaining characters in real time.
Start Counting