Social Media Character Limits (2026)
A single, verified reference for the character limits that matter across every major platform and your core SEO fields. Run your text through the free Word Rating counter and check it against the right number before you publish. It is the same free Word Rating counter you use for everything else: tweets, Instagram captions, title tags, meta descriptions and keyword density, all from one tool.
Character limits by platform (2026)
Maximum limits are what each field technically accepts. The "visible before cut-off" note matters more for engagement, because that is where the feed truncates your text and shows a "more" link. Front-load your hook before that point.
All visible text counts toward these limits, including letters, numbers, spaces, punctuation, hashtags, and @mentions. On X most emojis count as 2 characters and links count as 23 characters; on other platforms emojis and links usually count as written.
- X / Twitter: 280 (free), 25,000 (Premium); bio 160; DM 10,000
- Instagram: caption 2,200 (first ~125 shown); bio 150; 30 hashtags max
- LinkedIn: post 3,000 (~210 shown on desktop); headline 220; About 2,600; connection note 300
- Facebook: post 63,206 (~477 shown); personal bio 101; Page description 155
- TikTok: caption 4,000 (~100-150 shown); bio 80; username 24
- YouTube: title 100 (~60 shown); description 5,000 (~150 shown); community post 1,400
- Pinterest: pin title 100; pin description 500 (first ~50-60 matter); bio 160
- Threads: post 500; text attachment 10,000; bio 150 (shared with Instagram)
- SEO title tag: aim 50-60 characters (Google truncates ~600px)
- SEO meta description: aim 150-158 characters (Google truncates ~920px)
Optimizing for search instead of social? Use the dedicated title tag length checker and meta description length checker to test those two SEO fields against Google's pixel limits.
Check your text against any limit
Open the free Word Rating counter and write or paste your caption, post, headline, or meta text. The character count updates as you type, so you can see exactly where you stand against the platform limit.
Find your platform in the All limits tab, note the maximum and the "visible before cut-off" figure, then trim until your character count sits comfortably under both. For SEO fields, use the title and meta-description targets as a guide.
- Watch the running character count as you edit
- Compare it to the max limit, then to the visible cut-off
- On X, remember emojis count as 2 and links as 23 characters
- Keep your hook before the "more" cut-off so it shows in the feed
Stay within limits and read well
Hitting the maximum is rarely the goal. Shorter, front-loaded copy usually performs better because the feed cuts long text off and only your opening lines are visible by default.
A character counter helps you stay within each platform's limit and avoid getting truncated mid-sentence. It does not change your reach, and character count or word count is not a Google ranking factor; write for readers first.
- Put the most important words first, before the truncation point
- Use the visible cut-off (not the max) as your real target
- Trim hashtags: 3-5 focused tags usually beat the maximum
- Test SEO titles and descriptions in a SERP preview, since Google truncates by pixel width, not exact character count
Common questions
Limits change over time, so the figures here reflect verified 2026 values. When a platform updates a field, check the platform's own help docs for the latest number.
What is the character limit on X (Twitter) in 2026?
Free accounts can post up to 280 characters per tweet. X Premium subscribers can post up to 25,000 characters, which appear truncated in the timeline and expand when readers tap to read more. On X, most emojis count as 2 characters and every link counts as 23 characters regardless of its real length.
How many characters can an Instagram caption be?
Instagram captions allow up to 2,200 characters, but only about the first 125 characters show before the "...more" cut-off. Your bio is limited to 150 characters, and you can use a maximum of 30 hashtags per post (which count toward the caption limit).
What is the LinkedIn post and headline character limit?
LinkedIn posts allow up to 3,000 characters, though only roughly the first 210 characters on desktop show before "see more." Your headline can be 220 characters, the About section 2,600 characters, and a connection request note 300 characters.
How long can a TikTok caption be in 2026?
TikTok video captions support up to 4,000 characters (raised from the older 2,200 limit), but the feed truncates after roughly 100-150 characters with a "more" prompt. Profile bios are capped at 80 characters.
What are the YouTube title and description limits?
YouTube video titles allow up to 100 characters, but search and suggested-video listings only show about 60. Descriptions allow up to 5,000 characters, with only the first ~150 visible before "Show more." Community text posts are capped at 1,400 characters.
What is the ideal length for an SEO title tag and meta description?
There is no hard character limit; Google truncates by pixel width. In practice, aim for roughly 50-60 characters for a title tag (about 600 pixels) and 150-158 characters for a meta description (about 920 pixels on desktop). Character count or word count is not itself a ranking factor, so write for clarity and avoid mid-word truncation.