Why does byte size differ from character count?

Characters outside basic ASCII (like accented letters or emoji) can take up more than one byte in UTF-8.

Does this count emoji correctly?

Emoji are counted as characters using JavaScript string length, which can differ slightly from a strict Unicode grapheme count for complex emoji.

Is my text stored anywhere?

No — everything is calculated locally in your browser and never sent to a server.

What counts as punctuation?

Common symbols such as periods, commas, hyphens, quotes and brackets.

Can I use this for SMS character limits?

Yes — check the total character count against your carrier or platform's per-message limit.

Does it work with right-to-left languages?

Yes — character counting works regardless of text direction.

Text Tools

Character Counter

Paste or type any text to see a full character breakdown — total characters, letters, digits, spaces, punctuation and byte size.

Start Using This Tool

Runs in Your Browser
Instant Results
100% Private

Your Text

Your result will appear here.

Learn More

What Is a Character Counter?

A character counter breaks text down into precise counts — total characters, characters excluding spaces, letters, digits, spaces, punctuation, and the exact byte size once encoded as UTF-8. It is the tool to reach for whenever a platform enforces a strict character limit rather than a word limit.

Meta descriptions, tweet-length posts, SMS messages and form fields with hard character caps all depend on precise character counts, not word counts. Because it runs locally, you can check confidential or unpublished copy without it ever leaving your device.

Who Uses This Tool?

For Business

Keep meta titles, meta descriptions and ad copy within exact character limits.

For Personal Use

Check a bio or profile description against a platform's character cap.

For Students

Verify a short-answer response fits a strict character limit.

For Offices

Confirm a system field (like a product SKU description) fits its database column limit.

Why Use This Tool

Key Features

Instant Breakdown

See total characters, letters, digits, spaces and punctuation at once.

Byte Size Included

See the exact UTF-8 byte size, useful for database or API limits.

100% Private

Nothing you type is uploaded or stored.

Works Everywhere

A responsive layout that works on any device or screen size.

The Payoff

Benefits

Exact, Not Approximate

Get an exact count instead of guessing whether text fits a limit.

Useful for Developers

Byte-size counts help when working with fixed-length database fields.

No Signup Needed

Just paste your text and read the numbers.

Step by Step

How to Use Character Counter

Paste or Type Your Text

Add your text into the box above.

Read the Breakdown

Character, letter, digit and byte counts update instantly.

Adjust Your Text

Trim your text until it fits the limit you need.

Specifications

Technical Details

Detail	Value
Input	Plain text, pasted or typed directly
Processing	No practical limit — handled entirely by your browser
Output	Exact, instant, recalculated on every keystroke

You Can Verify This

Privacy & Security

What actually happens to your file when you use this tool.

100% Client-Side

This tool runs entirely inside your browser using JavaScript — nothing you type or generate is ever sent anywhere.

No Upload, Ever

There is no file upload and no server processing step — your data never leaves your device.

Works Offline

Once this page has loaded, the tool keeps working even without an internet connection.

Nothing Stored

Nothing you enter is saved on our servers — refreshing the page clears everything.

No Tracking of Your Input

We have no way to see what you type, generate or convert with this tool.

Get Better Results

Tips

Use Byte Size for API Limits

Some APIs limit fields by byte size, not character count — check both.

Combine with the Word Counter

Use both tools together when a brief specifies both word and character limits.

Frequently Asked Questions