How it works
Messages that use only the GSM-7 character set fit 160 characters in a single message, or 153 per segment when split. A single character outside that set, such as an emoji or a curly quote, switches the whole message to Unicode (UCS-2): 70 characters, or 67 per segment. Characters from GSM-7’s extension table, such as { } [ ] ~ | ^ €, count as two.
Some platforms convert characters automatically, so their counts can differ slightly. Sending business texts? See the A2P 10DLC guide and the SMS template generator.
Frequently asked questions
How many characters fit in one SMS?
160 characters using the standard GSM-7 character set, or 70 if the message contains any character outside it, such as an emoji. Longer messages are split into segments of 153 (GSM-7) or 67 (Unicode) characters.
Why do some characters count as two?
A few characters in GSM-7's extension table, such as { } [ ] ~ | \ ^ and €, take two character positions each.