Free tool
Threads character counter
Short answer
A text post on Threads can be up to 500 characters. Through Meta's API, emojis count as their UTF-8 bytes, so a post of 480 characters with several emojis can be refused. Paste a draft below to see both counts. A text attachment adds up to 10,000 characters to a text-only post. For X, the standard limit is 280.
The counter
500 left.
- Characters as you see them
- 0
- API count (emoji as bytes)
- 0
- X count (limit 280)
- 0
- Links (max 5)
- 0
The ring and the number under it follow the API count, because that is the count that can refuse a post. The first number is the plain count of what you see on screen. The X count follows X's weighting. Everything runs in your browser.
Why bytes matter
Meta's docs say: "Emojis are counted as the number of UTF-8 bytes." A plain letter is one byte. Most emojis are four. A post that is 480 characters in your notes app and carries ten emojis counts as about 510 through the API, and the API refuses it.
The fix is small: cut a few emojis or a short sentence. Leave a margin of 30 to 40 on any post that carries emojis. The full rules are on the Threads character limit page.
This counter treats emojis as bytes and every other character as one. It is an estimate, so if the Threads app and the counter ever disagree, trust the app.
Links and the text attachment
A pasted link is text in your post, so its characters count toward the 500. Meta's API allows up to 5 links in one post, and the counter warns when you go past that.
To go longer than 500, attach text to a text-only post. It holds up to 10,000 characters. See the character limit page for the rules.
The X version at 280
X's developer docs describe a weighted count: most characters are 1, emojis and CJK characters are 2, and every link is 23 however long it is. The counter applies those weights to give an estimate. For the full rules, see the X character limit page.
Questions
What is the Threads character limit?
500 characters for a text post, per Meta's Threads API documentation. A text attachment can add up to 10,000 characters to a text-only post.
Do emojis count extra on Threads?
Through the API they do. Meta's docs say emojis are counted as the number of UTF-8 bytes, and most emojis are four bytes. The counter above shows that number next to the plain character count.
Do links count toward the 500?
A link you paste is part of your text, so its characters count. Meta's API allows up to 5 links in one post.
Do spaces count?
Yes. Spaces, punctuation and line breaks are characters.
Why did my scheduler reject a post that looked short?
Emojis are the usual reason. A scheduler that publishes through the API counts them as bytes, so a post with a handful of emojis can pass in a notes app and fail there. Check the API count above.
How many characters can a post have on X?
280 for a standard post. X counts most characters as 1, emojis and CJK characters as 2, and any link as 23.
Can I write more than 500 characters?
Yes, with a text attachment on a text-only post: up to 10,000 characters. The main post still has to fit in 500.
Does this tool store or send my text?
No. The count runs in your browser. Nothing is saved and nothing is sent.
Sources
- Meta: Threads API, create posts (checked 2026-10-18)
- Meta: Threads API overview and specifications (checked 2026-10-18)
- X Developer docs: Counting characters (checked 2026-10-18)