Twitter/X Character Limits: Post, Bio & DM Guide

Twitter’s character limits remain one of the platform’s defining features. Getting cut off mid-thought or having your carefully crafted bio truncated happens when you don’t know the exact limits. Here’s everything you need to know about character counts across Twitter (now X) in 2026.

Standard Twitter accounts get 280 characters per post, while Premium subscribers can write up to 4,000 characters. But that’s just the beginning. Different sections of the platform have different limits, and some content types count characters in unexpected ways.

Standard vs Premium Character Limits

The basic Twitter account allows 280 characters per post. This limit replaced the original 140-character constraint in 2017, giving users more room to express complete thoughts without awkward abbreviations.

Premium (formerly Twitter Blue) subscribers get significantly more space. A Premium account can publish posts up to 4,000 characters long, roughly equivalent to a full page of text. This extended limit applies to both monthly and annual Premium subscriptions.

The character counter updates in real-time as you type. Standard users see the count turn from gray to yellow at 260 characters, then red at 280. Premium users have a much longer runway before hitting their limit. Use a Twitter character counter tool to check your count before posting, especially when drafting content in external editors.

Here’s the breakdown:

• Standard posts: 280 characters maximum
• Premium posts: 4,000 characters maximum
• Threads: Unlimited posts, each subject to individual limits
• Quote tweets: Your comment gets the full character limit, plus the embedded tweet

Bio and Profile Character Limits

Your Twitter bio has a strict 160-character limit. This applies to all account types, including Premium. Those 160 characters need to communicate who you are, what you do, and why someone should follow you.

Display names are limited to 50 characters. Your @username (handle) allows up to 15 characters and must be unique across the entire platform. Choose wisely because changing your handle affects your profile URL and how people find you.

Profile location fields accept 30 characters. Website URLs don’t count against any character limit in your bio section, but you can only add one clickable link in the designated website field.

Professional accounts get additional profile fields:

• Category: Selected from predefined options (doesn’t count)
• Business hours: Structured data (doesn’t count)
• Contact button: Email or phone (doesn’t count)

The 160-character bio limit forces precision. Every word matters. Remove filler phrases, use line breaks for readability, and include relevant keywords that help people understand your content at a glance.

Direct Message Character Limits

Direct messages allow up to 10,000 characters per message. This generous limit supports detailed conversations without splitting messages into multiple parts.

Unlike posts, DMs don’t show a visible character counter until you approach the limit. The text box simply expands as you type. You’ll see a warning when you cross 9,000 characters, giving you 1,000 characters of buffer.

Group DMs follow the same 10,000-character limit per message. However, the number of participants in a group message is capped at 50 people for standard accounts. Premium subscribers can create groups with more participants, but the per-message character limit remains consistent.

Media attachments in DMs don’t count against the character limit. You can send a 10,000-character message and still attach up to 10 images, videos up to 512MB, or voice messages up to 140 seconds.

How URLs and Media Count

Every URL in a tweet counts as exactly 23 characters, regardless of the actual URL length. Twitter automatically shortens all links using the t.co service, even if you paste a short link.

This 23-character rule applies to:

• Web links (http:// or https://)
• Image URLs
• Video URLs
• Any clickable hyperlink

The rule doesn’t apply to:

• @mentions (count as typed, including the @ symbol)
• #hashtags (count as typed, including the # symbol)
• Plain text that looks like a URL but isn’t hyperlinked

Images, videos, GIFs, and polls attached through Twitter’s media tools don’t count against your character limit at all. This means you can post a 280-character message with four images, and only the text counts.

Emojis typically count as 2 characters each, though some complex emojis (like country flags or skin tone variants) may count as more. If your character count seems off, emojis are often the reason.

Example: “Check out our new product! 🎉 https://example.com/very-long-url-path/product/page” counts as 50 characters:

• “Check out our new product! ” = 28 characters
• ”🎉 ” = 3 characters (emoji + space)
• The URL = 23 characters (regardless of actual length)

Character Optimization Strategies

Getting your message across within character limits requires strategic writing. Start by removing unnecessary words. “In order to” becomes “to.” “A lot of” becomes “many.” Every character saved is another character available for substance.

Use threads for longer content. Each tweet in a thread gets the full character allowance, letting you develop complex ideas across multiple connected posts. Threads also increase engagement because readers can share individual tweets or the entire thread.

Abbreviate strategically but maintain readability. “w/” for “with” and “b/c” for “because” save characters, but excessive abbreviation makes content harder to read. Balance brevity with clarity.

Front-load important information. Readers often skim, so put your main point in the first 100 characters. This also helps if tweets get truncated in feeds or previews.

Test your character count before posting. Use a character counting tool to verify your text fits within limits, especially when drafting in external editors that don’t have real-time Twitter counters. This prevents the frustration of crafting a perfect tweet only to discover it’s 15 characters too long.

Link shorteners beyond t.co don’t save characters. Whether you use bit.ly, TinyURL, or paste the full URL, Twitter counts all links as 23 characters. The only advantage of custom shorteners is branded links or analytics tracking.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Twitter count spaces as characters?

Yes, every space counts as one character. The character limit includes all spaces, line breaks, punctuation, and special characters. A tweet with excessive spacing will hit the limit faster than tightly written text.

Why does my character count differ between platforms?

Different platforms count certain elements differently. Twitter counts emojis as 2+ characters, while some text editors count them as 1. URLs always count as 23 characters on Twitter but show their full length elsewhere. Always verify character counts using Twitter’s native composer or a Twitter-specific counter before posting.

Can I edit a tweet to make it shorter after posting?

Yes, Twitter’s edit feature (available to Premium subscribers) allows you to modify tweets within 30 minutes of posting. You can shorten text, fix typos, or restructure content. The edit history remains visible to users who click “Edited” on the timestamp. Standard accounts cannot edit tweets after posting.

Do retweets with comments have character limits?

Yes, when you retweet with a comment (quote tweet), your comment has the full character limit of your account type (280 for standard, 4,000 for Premium). The embedded original tweet doesn’t count against your limit. However, your comment competes for attention with the embedded content.

How many characters can I use in Twitter polls?

Poll questions allow up to 280 characters (regardless of account type). Each poll option is limited to 25 characters. You can include up to 4 options per poll. The character limits are strict and cannot be exceeded even with Premium subscriptions.