SMS Character Counter
Count SMS characters and see how many message segments you'll be charged for.
Count the characters in an SMS and see how many message segments it becomes — which is what carriers actually charge for. A plain message fits 160 characters per segment, but a single emoji or special character switches the message to Unicode encoding and drops the limit to 70.
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GSM-7
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GSM-7: 160 characters per single message, 153 per part when split.
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Why SMS counts in segments, not just characters
SMS messages are sent in fixed-size segments. With standard GSM-7 encoding, one segment holds 160 characters. When a message is longer, it's split and each part can hold 153 characters (the rest is used to stitch the parts back together). The moment you include a character outside the GSM-7 set — most commonly an emoji, but also some curly quotes and symbols — the whole message switches to Unicode (UCS-2), where a single segment holds only 70 characters and split parts hold 67.
This matters because each segment is typically billed separately. A 161-character plain message costs two segments; adding one emoji to a 70-character message can suddenly double it. VerbCount shows the encoding, the total characters, the number of segments, and how many characters remain before the next split.
Keeping messages to one segment
If cost or deliverability matters, aim to stay within a single segment. Prefer plain punctuation over curly quotes and special symbols, and be deliberate about emoji — one emoji can cut your limit from 160 to 70. For marketing sends, link shorteners and tight copy keep most messages to one segment.
Examples
| Example | Input | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Plain text | A 150-character message | 1 segment · GSM-7 |
| Just over | A 170-character message | 2 segments · GSM-7 |
| With an emoji | 80 characters + 🎉 | 2 segments · UCS-2 (70/seg) |
Frequently asked questions
How many characters is one SMS?
160 characters for a plain (GSM-7) message. If the message contains an emoji or other non-GSM character, it switches to Unicode and the limit drops to 70 characters per segment.
Why does one emoji split my message?
An emoji forces Unicode (UCS-2) encoding, which only fits 70 characters per segment instead of 160 — so a short message with an emoji can take two segments.
How are long messages split?
Long messages are sent as multiple segments. Each part holds 153 characters in GSM-7 or 67 in Unicode, because some space is reserved to reassemble the parts in order.
Does this match what my carrier charges?
The segment count reflects standard SMS encoding rules and matches how most carriers bill. Always confirm with your provider for exact pricing.