SMS Character Counter
The SMS Character Counter helps you check how many characters are in a text message before you send it. It can be useful when you need to stay within an SMS character limit or want to see whether your message may be split into multiple parts.
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What Is an SMS Character Counter?
An SMS character counter counts the characters in a text message, including letters, numbers, spaces, and punctuation. It helps you check your message length before sending it.
Character count and SMS segment count are not the same thing. Character count tells you how long the message is, while SMS segments indicate how many separate message parts may be needed to deliver it. The number of segments can depend on the characters and encoding used in the message.
How to Use the SMS Character Counter
Using the SMS Character Counter is straightforward. Enter your message, check the result, and make changes if the message is longer than you want.
Enter or Paste Your Message
Type your SMS directly into the text box or paste an existing message into the tool.
Check Your Character Count
Once your message is entered, check the character count shown by the tool. This lets you see the total length of your message before sending it.
Review the SMS Length or Segments
If the tool provides SMS length or segment information, review it along with the character count. A longer message may use more than one SMS segment, depending on its characters and encoding.
Edit Your Message if Needed
If your message is longer than intended, remove unnecessary words or characters and check the count again. Small changes can sometimes bring a message back within the desired limit.
SMS Character Limits Explained
The number of characters an SMS can hold depends on the characters used in the message and the encoding required to send them. For a standard single-part SMS, the commonly used limits are 160 characters with GSM-7 encoding and 70 characters with Unicode encoding.
GSM-7 SMS Character Limit
A single SMS using GSM-7 encoding can commonly contain up to 160 characters. GSM-7 covers the standard Latin alphabet along with numbers, spaces, punctuation, and a defined set of other characters.
If a message goes beyond the single-part limit, it may be divided into multiple SMS segments.
Unicode SMS Character Limit
A single Unicode SMS can commonly contain up to 70 characters. Unicode is needed for many characters that are not included in the GSM-7 character set, such as many non-Latin scripts and certain symbols.
Because Unicode uses more space for each character, its single-part capacity is lower than the GSM-7 limit.
Multipart SMS Character Limits
When a message is split into multiple parts, some space in each segment is used for information that allows the parts to be linked and reassembled. This reduces the number of characters available for the actual message.
For multipart messages, the commonly used capacities are:
- 153 GSM-7 characters per segment
- 67 Unicode characters per segment
For example, a longer GSM-7 message may be divided into segments of up to 153 characters each rather than 160. Similarly, a longer Unicode message commonly uses 67 characters per segment rather than 70.
GSM-7 vs. Unicode SMS Encoding
GSM-7 and Unicode are two common ways characters are encoded when an SMS is sent. The encoding used affects how many characters can fit into a single message.
GSM-7 is a character encoding designed for a set of commonly used Latin letters, numbers, punctuation marks, and other supported characters. When a message can use GSM-7, a single SMS can commonly hold up to 160 characters.
Unicode supports a much wider range of characters, including many non-Latin writing systems and symbols that are not available in GSM-7. A single Unicode SMS commonly holds up to 70 characters.
Encoding affects SMS capacity because the two encoding systems use the available message space differently. If a message contains a character that is not supported by GSM-7, the message may need to be sent using Unicode, reducing its character capacity.
This is why adding a single emoji, symbol, or unsupported character can sometimes change the way an SMS is counted.
Why Does the SMS Limit Drop From 160 to 70 Characters?
The limit drops from 160 to 70 characters when the message needs Unicode encoding instead of GSM-7. The key relationship is characters → encoding → available capacity.
If all the characters in your message are supported by GSM-7, a single SMS can commonly hold up to 160 characters. If the message contains a character that requires Unicode, the available capacity for a single SMS is commonly reduced to 70 characters.
This means the character count alone does not determine the SMS limit. The type of characters you use affects the encoding, and the encoding determines how much space is available for the message.
Do Emojis and Special Characters Affect SMS Length?
Yes. Emojis and certain special characters can affect how an SMS is counted and how many characters fit into a message. The effect depends on the character and the encoding used.
Emojis are generally outside the GSM-7 character set, so including one can cause a message to use Unicode encoding. When that happens, the single-part capacity can commonly change from 160 GSM-7 characters to 70 Unicode characters.
Non-GSM characters can have the same effect. This can include characters from writing systems that are not supported by GSM-7, as well as some symbols and punctuation marks.
Not every special character automatically changes the encoding, however. GSM-7 also contains an extended character set, where certain characters use additional character positions without necessarily switching the message to Unicode.
Because of these differences, adding or replacing even one character can sometimes change the available SMS capacity. The safest approach is to check the message after adding emojis or special characters rather than assuming every symbol behaves the same way.
How SMS Segments Work
An SMS can be delivered as a one-part message or as a multipart message, depending on its length and encoding.
A one-part SMS fits within the available capacity of a single message. With commonly used limits, this means up to 160 GSM-7 characters or 70 Unicode characters.
A multipart SMS, also called a concatenated SMS, is divided into several segments when the message is too long for one part. The receiving device uses information included with the segments to put them back together so they appear as one longer message.
The number of characters that fit in each segment depends on the encoding. A multipart message commonly allows 153 GSM-7 characters per segment or 67 Unicode characters per segment.
Why a 161-Character Message Can Become Multiple Segments
A 161-character message does not fit within the commonly used 160-character GSM-7 limit for a single-part SMS. It therefore needs to be sent as a multipart message.
Once the message is split, the multipart capacity is lower. For GSM-7, each segment commonly holds up to 153 characters, so a 161-character message requires two segments.
Why Multipart SMS Has a Lower Character Capacity
Multipart messages need additional information so the receiving device knows which segments belong together and can reconstruct the original message. This reduces the space available for the actual text.
That is why the common capacity changes from 160 to 153 characters per segment for GSM-7, and from 70 to 67 characters per segment for Unicode when a message is split into multiple parts.
SMS Character Count Examples
The examples in this section should match the exact calculations and results shown by your SMS Character Counter. Since I have not yet seen the tool’s actual interface or code, I won’t invent character counts, segment results, or encoding behavior.
Example of a GSM-7 Message
Message:Your order is ready for pickup.
The example should show the exact character count and other results displayed by your tool for this message.
Example Near the 160-Character Limit
Use a GSM-7 message that is close to the single-part limit. The example should show the exact point at which the tool changes its segment or length result.
Example of a Multipart Message
Use a message long enough to require multiple SMS segments. The example should show the character count and the actual segment calculation produced by your tool.
Example With Unicode or an Emoji
Use a message containing an emoji or another character that affects encoding. The example should demonstrate how your tool handles that character and whether the displayed capacity or segment count changes.
Send me the SMS Character Counter code or a screenshot of its results, and I can replace these placeholders with exact, verified examples.
How to Reduce Your SMS Character Count
If your message is longer than intended, a few small edits can reduce the character count. Use the counter after each change so you can see how the message length is affected.
Remove Unnecessary Words
Look for words that do not add much meaning to the message. Shortening phrases, removing repetition, and using more direct wording can reduce the total character count without changing the main message.
Review Special Characters
Check your message for symbols or characters you do not need. Some characters can affect SMS encoding, so replacing an unnecessary character with a simpler one may also change the available SMS capacity.
Use Emojis Carefully
Emojis can affect how an SMS is encoded and may reduce the available character capacity. If an emoji is not important to the message, removing it can sometimes help keep the message within the desired limit.
Check Your Message Again After Editing
After making changes, paste or type the revised message into the SMS Character Counter again. Check the new character count and, if available, the segment or encoding information before sending the message.
Why Use an SMS Character Counter?
An SMS Character Counter helps you check a message before sending it, especially when staying within a specific SMS length matters.
- Personal text messages: Check whether a message fits within the intended SMS limit.
- Business messages: Review customer-facing texts before sending them.
- Notifications: Keep alerts and status updates within the desired length.
- Reminders: Check appointment, delivery, or other reminder messages before they are sent.
- Marketing messages: Review promotional texts and see how their length may affect the number of SMS segments used.
Frequently Asked Questions About SMS Character Limits
Conclusion
An SMS Character Counter makes it easier to check your message length before sending it. Character count, encoding, and SMS segments are connected, so a message may use more than one segment when it exceeds the available capacity.
Checking your message before sending can help you spot unnecessary characters, unexpected encoding changes, or a message that is longer than intended.