Twitter/X Character Counter
Count characters against the 280-character X limit, with URLs counted as 23 and a tweet-thread splitter.
About the Twitter/X Character Counter
The Twitter/X Character Counter shows exactly how much of the 280-character limit your post uses as you type. Instead of writing a tweet, hitting publish, and finding out you are three characters over, you get a live count, a running total of characters remaining, and a color-coded progress bar that turns red the moment you cross the limit. It is built for the way X actually measures posts, so what you see here matches what the compose box will tell you.
The trickiest part of counting tweets is links. On X, every URL is wrapped by the t.co shortener and counted as a fixed 23 characters, no matter how long the real address is. A 90-character link and a 12-character link both cost you 23. This tool includes a "count links as 23" toggle that applies that rule automatically, replacing any http:// or https:// address in your text with a 23-character weight before it totals everything up. Turn the toggle off if you want a plain, literal character count instead.
Because a single post caps at 280 characters, longer thoughts have to become threads. The counter estimates how many tweets your text would need if you split it across the limit, giving you a quick sense of whether you are writing one punchy post or a multi-part thread. Everything runs privately in your browser — nothing you type is uploaded, stored, or sent anywhere — so it is safe for drafts, unpublished announcements, or anything you are not ready to post yet.
How to use
- Type or paste your tweet into the box. The counters and progress bar update on every keystroke, so there is no button to press.
- Watch the count. "Characters used" shows your running total, "Remaining" shows how many of the 280 you have left, and "Tweets" estimates how many posts a thread would take.
- Keep the link toggle on if your tweet contains URLs. With "Count links as 23 characters" enabled, each link is weighted at 23 to match how X shortens it. Turn it off for a literal count.
- Mind the color. When you go over 280, the remaining number, the character total, the textarea border, and the progress bar all turn red so you know instantly to trim.
- Copy or clear when you are done. "Copy text" places your tweet back on the clipboard ready to paste into X, and "Clear" empties the box to start fresh.
Frequently asked questions
What is the character limit for a tweet on X?
A standard post on X is capped at 280 characters. This has been the free-account limit since 2017, when it doubled from the original 140. Paid subscribers can write much longer posts, but 280 remains the number the vast majority of users need to fit within, and it is the limit this counter tracks by default.
Why do links only count as 23 characters?
X automatically wraps every URL in its own t.co link shortener and charges it a fixed 23 characters, regardless of the real link's length. So a long link and a short link both cost 23. With the "count links as 23" toggle enabled, this tool applies that rule for you so your total matches what X will show.
How does the tweet-thread count work?
If your text is longer than 280 characters, it has to be split across multiple posts to form a thread. The counter divides your effective character count by 280 and rounds up to estimate how many tweets you would need. It is a quick approximation to help you plan; the exact split depends on where you break sentences.
Does the counter include spaces and emoji?
Yes. Spaces, line breaks, and punctuation all count toward the 280 limit, just as they do on X. Emoji and many non-Latin characters count as well, though on X some emoji count as two characters — treat the total here as a close, practical match rather than a byte-exact figure.
Is my tweet uploaded or saved anywhere?
No. All counting happens in JavaScript on your own device, so your text never leaves the browser. Nothing is sent to a server, stored, or logged — close the tab and it is gone. That makes the tool safe for private drafts, embargoed announcements, or anything you have not published yet.
What is the difference between this and a plain character counter?
A generic character counter just tallies raw characters. This tool adds the rules specific to X: a built-in 280 target, the t.co link weighting of 23 characters per URL, a thread estimator, and a progress bar tuned to the tweet limit, so the numbers reflect how X actually measures your post.