Free tool
Free SMS character counter
Evoriqa's free SMS character counter shows how many characters and messages your text uses as you type. It tells you whether the text is GSM-7, at 160 per message, or UCS-2, at 70. It marks the characters that forced the change and fixes curly quotes in one click. Nothing you type leaves your browser.
0 characters, 0 messages, GSM-7
- Encoding
- GSM-7
- Characters used
- 0
- Messages
- 0
- Left in this message
- 160of 160
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A counter keeps your messages short. Evoriqa’s AI agent answers customers who text you, from your own content, and hands over to your team when a person is needed. See the SMS channel.
SMS length limits and the characters that count double
The rules the counter applies. Texting systems follow the same two encodings, though a provider may count a little differently.
| Encoding | One message | Each part, if split |
|---|---|---|
| GSM-7 | 160 | 153 |
| UCS-2 | 70 | 67 |
So 161 plain characters take 2 messages, and 71 characters with one emoji take 2 as well.
Count as two in GSM-7
The euro sign, square and curly brackets, tilde, caret, vertical bar and backslash each use two places. The text stays GSM-7.
Switch the text to UCS-2
Curly quotes, long dashes, the ellipsis character, emoji, a non-breaking space and most letters outside Western Europe. The counter marks each one it finds.
How to check the length of an SMS
- 01
Type or paste your message
The counter updates as you type. It shows the encoding, the characters used, how many messages the text takes and how many characters are left in the last one. - 02
Check the encoding
A text of plain GSM-7 characters holds 160 per message. One character outside that set moves the whole text to UCS-2, which holds 70. - 03
Fix what forced UCS-2
The characters that caused it are marked. Curly quotes, long dashes and the ellipsis character swap for plain ones in one click. Emoji stay until you remove them. - 04
Copy it and send it
Copy the text into your SMS tool. Providers can count a little differently, so check the final length in your provider's own counter before a big send.
Frequently asked questions
How many characters are in one SMS?
A single message holds 160 characters when every character is in the standard GSM-7 set. If any character is outside it, such as an emoji or a curly quote, the limit drops to 70.
Why is a long text split into 153 or 67 characters?
A text over one message is sent in parts. Each part carries a small header so the phone can join them in order. The header takes some space, so a part holds 153 GSM-7 characters or 67 UCS-2 characters.
Why does one emoji change my message count?
An emoji is not in the GSM-7 set, so the whole text switches to UCS-2. That halves the room: 70 characters per message instead of 160. Most emoji also take two places each.
Which characters count as two?
The euro sign and these symbols count as two characters in GSM-7: [ ] { } ~ ^ | and a backslash. A part never splits one in half, so one can move to the next message and leave a gap.
Do spaces and line breaks count?
Yes. Each space and each line break counts as one character, so the counter includes them in the total.
Why do my curly quotes and dashes cost more?
Word processors and phone keyboards turn straight quotes and hyphens into curly quotes and long dashes. Those look-alikes are not in the GSM-7 set. Replace them with plain ones and the text can return to 160 characters per message.
Will my SMS provider count the same way?
Most follow these rules, but a provider can convert some characters for you or count in its own way. We have not checked any provider, so test a long text in your provider's own counter before a big send.
Does the tool save or send my message?
No. The count runs in your browser, and the text is never sent to Evoriqa. Site analytics records only whether you copied or fixed a message and its encoding, never the words.
Can an AI agent answer customers who text me?
Yes. Evoriqa's AI agent answers customers on SMS and website chat from your own content. It hands the conversation to your team when it needs a person.
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