Free SMS Character Limit Calculator
Stop Guessing, Start Knowing
Tired of unexpected SMS costs and truncated messages? SMS Local’s free character limit calculator instantly shows you exactly how many segments your message will require. Understand GSM-7, Unicode, and special characters – and send perfectly crafted SMS campaigns every time.
Insert Message Content
Character Breakdown
New User Tips
Using our SMS Character Limit Checker is simple and helps you optimize message length for better delivery.
Step 1: Enter Text
Simply type your message into the tool, and it will automatically display the number of characters used.
Step 2: See Special Characters
The tool will detect and highlight any special characters (like accented letters or symbols) in your text. This helps you save space by removing unnecessary characters, ultimately lowering the SMS cost.
Step 3: See Encoding Type
The tool will identify the encoding type based on the characters used in your message. It will display whether your message is using 7bit encoding (for standard characters) or Unicode encoding (for special characters and emojis).
Step 4: See Number of Segments
The tool will calculate how many segments your message will be split into. If your message exceeds the SMS limit, you can reduce the character count or remove unnecessary details to avoid extra charges.
The Problem: Unexpected SMS Costs and Broken Messages
Sending SMS messages seems simple, but hidden character limits can quickly derail your campaigns. Using even one special character or emoji can unexpectedly switch your message to Unicode encoding, reducing your character limit from 160 to just 70! This leads to:
- Higher Costs: You're billed per SMS segment, so unintentional Unicode usage can double or triple your expenses.
- Truncated Messages: Messages get cut off mid-sentence, damaging your brand and confusing your recipients.
- Failed Campaigns: Poorly formatted messages lead to lower engagement and wasted marketing spend.
The Solution: SMS Local's Character Limit Calculator
Our free, easy-to-use calculator takes the guesswork out of SMS messaging. Here's how it helps:
Understanding SMS Character Limits: GSM-7 vs. Unicode
To master SMS messaging, you need to understand the two main character encoding standards:
- GSM-7: The standard for most Western European languages, allowing 160 characters per SMS.
- Unicode: Used for messages containing characters outside the GSM-7 set (including emojis and characters from many other languages), reducing the limit to 70 characters per SMS.
| Character | Description | GSM-7 |
|---|---|---|
| @ | Commercial at | ✓ |
| $ | Dollar sign | ✓ |
| A-Z | Uppercase letters | ✓ |
| a-z | Lowercase letters | ✓ |
| 0-9 | Digits | ✓ |
| . | Period/Full Stop | ✓ |
| , | Comma | ✓ |
| { | Left Curly Bracket | * |
| € | Euro Sign | * |
- ✓ = Standard GSM-7 character (1 character space)
- * = GSM-7 extension character (2 character spaces)
| Character | Description | GSM-7 | Unicode |
|---|---|---|---|
| € | Euro Sign | * | ✓ |
| { | Left Curly Bracket | * | ✓ |
| 🙂 | Slightly Smiling Face (Emoji) | X | ✓ |
| © | Copyright Sign | X | ✓ |
- ✓ = 1 Character Space
- * = 2 Character Spaces
- X = Not Available. Will use unicode.
Master Your SMS Campaigns with SMS Local
Don't let character limits hold you back. With SMS Local, you get:
Precision
Accurately predict message segmentation and billing, ensuring your SMS campaigns are sent as you intend.
Control
Effectively manage your SMS marketing budget and prevent unexpected costs from exceeding character limitations easily.
Clarity
Deliver complete, well-formatted messages to your audience, avoiding truncation and ensuring clear communication every time.
Affordability
Explore our range of services. Find the perfect fit, and check our competitive pricing.
What Our Customers Are Saying
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Reliable patner for sms marketing
Smslocal has been our trusted partner for sms marketing. Their consistent performance and features have helped us succeed.
Scales for large business
We switched to smslocal for our appointment reminder system across our 40+ locations. The platform has seamlessly handled our high volume of texts and simplied our communication
Our business partner
Smslocal helps our small business send quotes and scheduling changes quickly
Stay Within the Limit
Use SMS Local’s Character Limit Calculator to ensure your message is within the limit. Plan your messaging strategy for the best impact, and get the most out of your SMS campaigns – starting today!
FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
The standard SMS character limit depends on the encoding used. For messages using the GSM-7 character set (common Western European characters), the limit is 160 characters. For messages using Unicode encoding (which includes emojis and characters from many other languages), the limit is 70 characters per segment.
Emojis use Unicode encoding, so the limit is 70 characters per segment. Even a single emoji will trigger the Unicode limit.
GSM-7 is a character encoding standard designed for common Western European characters, allowing for 160 characters per SMS. Unicode is a universal standard that supports a much wider range of characters, including those from most of the world's writing systems and emojis. Unicode encoding reduces the limit to 70 characters per SMS. You can review the details at the Unicode Consortium and the GSM Association.
The best way to avoid exceeding the SMS character limit is to use our free SMS character limit calculator! It automatically detects the encoding (GSM-7 or Unicode) and shows you the precise segment count for your message.
Yes, you can! Longer messages are automatically split into multiple segments (this is called concatenated SMS). However, each segment is billed separately, and if your message uses Unicode, each segment will be limited to 70 characters.
The original SMS system design created a limit. The available space in the signalling protocol was 1120 bits. Using 7-bit encoding, this gives 160 characters (1120 / 7 = 160). Using 8-bit encoding, which would support more characters per symbol, would provide only 140 characters (1120 / 8 = 140). The creators of SMS chose to maximize the number of characters by using 7-bit encoding, prioritizing quantity of the most popular symbols.
No, SMS messages are not limited to 170 characters. The limit is 160 characters per segment for GSM-7 encoded messages and 70 characters per segment for Unicode encoded messages. Longer messages are split into multiple segments and then reassembled by the receiving phone.
We offer a range of SMS services designed to meet your business needs. You can review our packages and pricing options to find the perfect fit.
