Character Count Limits on Every Social Media Platform (2026)
Nothing kills a social media post faster than hitting the character limit mid-sentence. Here's every major platform's limit, plus pro tips for staying within them.
Platform Character Limits
| Platform | Limit | What Counts |
|---|---|---|
| Twitter / X | 280 characters | All text (media links used to be free, now count) |
| Instagram (caption) | 2,200 characters | Caption text; hashtags count toward the limit |
| Instagram (bio) | 150 characters | Include links using the "Link in bio" format |
| LinkedIn (post) | 3,000 characters | Long-form posts; first ~150 chars visible before "see more" |
| LinkedIn (headline) | 220 characters | Keywords here help with LinkedIn search |
| Facebook (post) | 63,206 characters | First ~480 chars visible before "see more" |
| TikTok (caption) | 2,200 characters | Keep it short — TikTok is video-first |
| YouTube (description) | 5,000 characters | First 2-3 lines are visible; put key info there |
| SMS (text message) | 160 characters | Messages over 160 are split into segments |
Pro Tips for Each Platform
Twitter / X
Write your draft, then trim ruthlessly. Use a word counter to check. Pro tip: Write the core message in the first 100 characters — that's what shows in notifications and embeds.
The first 150 characters are critical — that's what people see before clicking "see more." Start with a strong hook. Use line breaks every 2-3 sentences for readability.
Hashtags count! If you use 30 hashtags at 20 characters each, that's 600 characters — over a quarter of your caption. Consider putting hashtags in the first comment instead.
Most users scroll past posts longer than 2-3 lines. Keep posts under 300 characters unless you're sharing a personal story. Use images and videos — they get 3x more engagement than text-only posts.
Track Your Count While Writing
Use our free Word Counter to check character counts (including the "with spaces" option — important for Twitter/X and SMS limits).
🔢 Check your character count: Word Counter Tool →