SMS length counter
Type or paste your SMS to see characters, SMS parts and credits. Find the one character that turns a 160-character SMS into a 70-character Unicode one.
Quotes, dashes, ₹ and similar symbols can be swapped for plain ones with the button above.
Highlighted: characters that force Unicode. Tinted: characters that count as 2 (like { } [ ] ~ | € ^). A blue bar shows where a new SMS part starts.
Estimate credits
0
Most SMS providers charge per part. Check your provider’s rate and any DLT scrubbing charges.
How SMS length works
| Message type | One SMS | Each part of a long SMS |
|---|---|---|
| English (GSM) | 160 characters | 153 characters |
| Hindi, emoji or other Unicode | 70 characters | 67 characters |
Long SMS are split into parts that the phone joins back together. Each part needs a few characters for joining, which is why the limit per part is lower.
Tips to keep SMS short
- Use a short link: a hi4.in link is about 21 characters, while shop and tracking links are often 80 or more.
- Write Rs. instead of ₹ and use plain quotes — one fancy symbol switches the whole SMS to Unicode.
- Avoid emoji in transactional SMS. They force Unicode and many phones show them as boxes.
- For Hindi SMS, keep it under 70 characters for one part, or plan for 67 per part.
Questions
Why does my SMS show 70 characters instead of 160?
One character outside the basic GSM set — like ₹, a curly quote, an emoji or a Hindi letter — switches the whole SMS to Unicode, which allows 70 characters per SMS. We highlight those characters for you.
Do spaces and line breaks count?
Yes. Every space and line break counts as one character.
Why do some characters count as 2?
Characters like { } [ ] ~ | ^ € and the backslash are in the GSM extension table. Each one takes the space of two characters.
Is the credit estimate exact?
It is close, but providers may count slightly differently, add DLT scrubbing charges or round prices. Check your provider’s rates before a big send.
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