# X character counter

Paste your post and see its length the way X counts it: every link as 23 characters, emoji and CJK characters as 2. You also see whether the same text fits on Threads, Bluesky, LinkedIn and the other networks.

## Why X needs its own counter

A plain character count is wrong on X. Two posts with the same number of letters can differ by dozens of characters once links, emoji or CJK text are involved: a 100-character URL counts as 23, a single emoji as 2. This page counts the way X does, so a post that fits here fits on X.

## Writing for X and other networks at once

The chips under the count show whether the same text fits on Threads, Bluesky, Mastodon, LinkedIn, Instagram and the rest. Each network counts in its own way: Threads counts emoji as their UTF-8 bytes, Bluesky counts graphemes and shortens links. For one post adapted to five networks side by side, use the cross-post formatter.

## Facts

- X's standard limit is 280 weighted characters; links count as 23 and emoji and CJK characters as 2 (X developer docs, checked 2026-10-21).
- X Premium accounts can post up to 25,000 characters.
- The counter uses the same weights as the PostBoost composer, so the count here matches the app.

## How to use

1. Type or paste your post into the box.
2. Read the count against 280 and how many characters are left, or how far over you are.
3. Over 280? Shorten it, check the X Premium line, or split it into a thread with the thread maker.
4. Check the chips below to see which other networks the same text fits.

## FAQ

### How does X count characters?

X uses a weighted count. Most Latin letters, digits, punctuation and spaces count as 1. Emoji count as 2, and so do Chinese, Japanese and Korean characters. The counter uses the same weights as X's open source twitter-text library.

### How much does a link count on X?

Every link counts as 23 characters, however long it is, because X shortens it with its t.co service. A bare domain such as example.com counts as a link too.

### Do line breaks count toward the X limit?

Yes. Each line break counts as 1 character, like a space.

### What is the X Premium character limit?

X Premium accounts can post up to 25,000 characters. When your post is over 280, the counter shows its length against 25,000 as well.

### What happens when my post is over 280 characters?

Without X Premium, X won't publish it. Shorten the post, or split it into a numbered thread with the X thread maker, which keeps every post under the limit.

### Does this page store what I type?

No. The counter runs in your browser and never sends your text anywhere.

## Related

- [Social media character counter](https://postboost.co/tools/social-media-character-counter): Free character counter for X, Threads, Bluesky, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok and more. Counts as each network does, live in your browser.
- [Cross-post formatter: one post, five networks, side by side](https://postboost.co/tools/cross-post-formatter): Format one post for X, Threads, Bluesky, Mastodon and LinkedIn side by side: each network's own count, link rules and thread split. Free, no signup.
- [X thread maker: split long text into numbered posts](https://postboost.co/tools/x-thread-maker): Split long text into numbered posts for X, Threads, Bluesky or Mastodon. Never cuts a word or a link. Free, no signup, runs in your browser.
- [How to Turn a Blog Post into an X Thread People Finish](https://postboost.co/learn/blog-post-to-x-thread): Turn a blog post into an X thread: pick one idea, split by meaning, number it, put the link last, then schedule it. Free thread maker and in-app steps.
- [Post editor](https://postboost.co/features/editor): Write once, adjust per account, preview it the way each network shows it and pick the format: Reel, Story, thread, offer, board or privacy.

Last verified: 2026-10-21

## Sources

- [X: counting characters](https://docs.x.com/fundamentals/counting-characters)

Canonical: https://postboost.co/tools/x-character-counter