SMS length and segment counter
Write or paste a message to see how many characters it has, how many SMS parts it will be sent as, and which encoding it needs. Your text stays in your browser.
- Characters
- 0
- Encoding
- GSM 7-bit
- SMS parts
- 0
- Left in part
- 160
The limits at a glance
| Encoding | One message | Each part when split |
|---|---|---|
| GSM 7-bit | 160 | 153 |
| Unicode (UCS-2) | 70 | 67 |
Short verification texts are almost always one part. Keep the code near the start, avoid emoji and curly quotes if you want the 160 limit, and test the final wording here before you send it through an API.
Questions about SMS length
How many characters fit in one SMS?
A single message holds 160 characters when it uses the standard GSM 7-bit alphabet. If any character falls outside that alphabet, such as an emoji or most non-Latin letters, the whole message switches to Unicode and a single message holds 70 characters.
Why does a long message split into parts?
Once a text goes past one message, it is sent as linked parts and each part carries a small header. That leaves 153 characters per part in GSM 7-bit and 67 per part in Unicode.
Which characters count double?
In the GSM 7-bit alphabet the characters ^ { } \ [ ] ~ | and the euro sign take two places each. This counter adds them up for you.
Why did one emoji change my segment count?
An emoji is not in the GSM alphabet, so the whole message is sent as Unicode, and most emoji use two Unicode units. A short text can jump from 160 to 70 characters per message because of one smiley.
Is the result exact for my carrier?
It follows the standard rules, which most networks use. Some providers add their own limits or convert special characters, so treat the result as a close estimate when cost matters.