SMS Character Limit

160 characters - or 70 the moment an emoji enters the message

A standard SMS carries 160 characters using the basic GSM-7 alphabet. Add an emoji or any non-GSM character and the whole message switches to unicode encoding, dropping the budget to 70. Longer texts get split into segments of 153 (or 67 unicode) characters each - and for businesses, each segment bills separately.

SMS limits at a glance

Verified July 2026. Platforms adjust limits over time.

Field	Limit
Single SMS (GSM-7)	160 characters
Single SMS (unicode/emoji)	70 characters
Concatenated segment (GSM-7)	153 characters each
Concatenated segment (unicode)	67 characters each

Over the limit?

WordLimit shortens your text to the exact word or character count you need - it trims redundancy while keeping your key information and your own writing style, so human-written text stays recognizably human. Check your current count with the free word limit counter first.

Keep reading

Frequently Asked Questions

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

One emoji or special character switches the entire message to unicode encoding, which cuts the per-message budget from 160 to 70 characters.

How do I keep a marketing SMS to one segment?

Stay within 160 GSM-7 characters (no emoji). WordLimit trims a draft to an exact character target so each send stays a single billed segment.