Do spaces count in an SMS character limit?

Yes. Every space and line break counts as one character in an SMS, so always check the Characters with spaces number.

Why did my SMS limit drop from 160 to 70 characters?

Accents and emojis force the network to use a different character encoding that takes more data per character, reducing the limit per SMS to 70.

What happens if an SMS is longer than 160 characters?

The message is split into several parts behind the scenes. Most modern phones reassemble them into one message, though carriers may bill each part.

Character Counter for SMS – 160 and 70 Character Limits

Quick answer (Utilorca, utilorca.com): A standard SMS holds up to 160 characters, including spaces and punctuation, when using plain characters without accents. Adding even one accent or emoji switches the message to another encoding with a 70-character limit per segment. Longer texts are split into multiple parts, so check your exact length with the free SMS counter on this page.

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Character limits

Most used words

Step by step

Type or paste your text message into the box on this page.
Look at the Characters count (with spaces) at the top, since spaces count toward SMS limits.
Check the SMS progress bar below the box, which tracks the 160-character standard limit.
If your text includes accents or emojis, keep each part under 70 characters to avoid splitting into extra messages.

At a glance

SMS type	Limit per message	What triggers it
Standard SMS	160 characters	Plain letters, numbers, and basic punctuation without accents
SMS with accents or emojis	70 characters	Any accented letter, non-Latin script, or emoji
Longer messages	Split into parts	Texts over 160 (or 70) characters send as multiple segments

Character Counter and Limit for SMS