Guide
Twitter Character Count: How X Counts Characters
The character count on X is not a count of the letters you can see. X’s 280-character limit counts every link as 23 characters and most emoji as two, so a post can look shorter than it is.
Every link costs 23
X rewrites every link, so each counts as 23 characters however long it is. A 90-character address and a 20-character one cost the same.
Emoji count double
Most emoji count as two characters toward the 280.
Check the character count on Twitter before you post
The composer’s X tab counts the way X does and shows how many characters you have left. The free character counter and thread formatter count the same way, in your browser, with no account.
If it’s too long
A post over 280 is stopped with how far over it is. Shorten it, or split it into a thread with the free thread formatter.
Counting a thread
Every post in a thread has its own 280 characters, counted the same way. A link in the second post costs 23 there too, and an emoji at the end of the third costs two. Count each part on its own, and let the formatter split the text at sentence boundaries so no part is cut mid-word.
Sources
Questions
How many characters is a tweet now?
A post on X, which used to be Twitter, holds 280 characters, counted the way this page explains. Links cost 23 each and most emoji cost two.
Is a tweet character count the same as a post's count on X?
Yes. A tweet and a post are the same thing on X, and both are counted the same way: 280 characters, with links at 23 and most emoji at two.
Why does my post look shorter than X says?
X counts every link as 23 characters however long it is, and most emoji as two. Paste the post into the free counter to see the real count.
What happens when a post is over 280?
X will not send it, and you see the number of characters to cut. Trim it, or break it into a thread.