2026-07-02
Complete guide to X (Twitter) character limits including posts, DMs, bios, and tips to write within the 280-character limit.
X (formerly Twitter) has a standard character limit of 280 characters for regular posts. This limit was doubled from the original 140 characters in November 2017. Premium subscribers (X Premium) can post up to 25,000 characters per post, but the first 280 characters are what appear in the timeline before a "Show more" link.
X uses its own character counting method. Most characters count as 1, but URLs always count as 23 characters regardless of their actual length (X uses t.co link shortening). Emojis count as 2 characters. CJK characters (Chinese, Japanese, Korean) count as 2 characters each. Mentions (@username) count toward the limit, while media attachments (images, videos, GIFs) do not.
Posts: 280 characters (25,000 for Premium). Direct Messages: 10,000 characters. Bio: 160 characters. Display Name: 50 characters. Username: 15 characters. Lists: Name 25 characters, Description 100 characters. Polls: 25 characters per option.
Use abbreviations where appropriate. Replace long URLs with link shorteners (though X shortens them automatically). Break long thoughts into a thread instead of cramming everything into one post. Use tools like PostLen to check your character count before posting. Remove unnecessary words and use concise language.
Character limits force writers to be concise and clear. Studies show that shorter posts tend to get higher engagement rates on X. Posts between 71-100 characters receive the highest engagement. A well-crafted short message often performs better than a lengthy one.
Use PostLen to check your character count before posting.
Try PostLen →