Draft your post and this Twitter / X character counter shows how many of the 280 characters you have used and how many remain. Go over the limit and the figure turns red, so you know to trim before you hit post.
It counts live as you type — no need to paste into X and hope it fits.
How to use the X character counter
- Type or paste your draft post into the box.
- Watch the “characters left” figure count down from 280.
- If it turns red, you are over — cut filler words or shorten a link.
- Copy your finished post and paste it straight into X.
The 280-character limit explained
A standard X post allows up to 280 characters. Mentions and hashtags count toward that total, and every link counts as a fixed length (currently 23 characters) no matter how long the real URL is. Emoji can count as two characters each. This tool counts the raw characters you type, which matches the plain-text length of your post.
Character limits across X
| Element | Limit |
|---|---|
| Standard post | 280 characters |
| Post (Premium subscribers) | up to 25,000 |
| Display name | 50 characters |
| Bio | 160 characters |
| Handle (@username) | 15 characters |
Tips for posts that fit
Short posts often get more engagement than ones crammed to the limit. If you keep bumping 280, cut hedge words like “I think” and “just”, drop one hashtag, or break the idea into a numbered thread. Leaving a little room also makes your post easier to quote-post.