Mastodon character counter
Count your post the way Mastodon counts it and see every limit at once.
Table of contents
Mastodon character counter
Live counts for the post (default) (500), bio (500) and display name (30), measured the way Mastodon counts them. Everything runs in your browser; nothing you type is stored or sent anywhere.
How to use the Mastodon character counter
- Pick the field
Choose what you are writing: post (default), bio and display name. Each field has its own Mastodon limit. - Type or paste
The count updates on every keystroke, using Mastodon's own counting rules for emoji and links. - Watch the limit bars
Each bar turns amber past 90% of the limit and red when you are over, with the exact number of characters to trim. - Trim and copy
Cut until every field is under its limit, then paste into Mastodon.
Mastodon character limits in 2026
The 500-character default is a safe floor: each server can raise it, and your server reports its own limit and the link cost. A bare domain without https:// is not turned into a link, so it counts letter by letter.
| Field | Limit | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Post (default) | 500 | each server can set its own limit, often 1,000 to 5,000 |
| Link | 23 | any link written with https:// |
| Bio | 500 | - |
| Display name | 30 | - |
| Content warning | separate | counted on its own, not added to the body |
How Mastodon counts characters
Mastodon counts every link written with https:// as 23 characters, any emoji as 1, and a mention of someone on another server as @name only.
When your post does not fit in 500 characters
First check your own server: 500 is only the default, and many servers allow 1,000, 2,000 or even 5,000. If you are still over, post a thread of replies, and keep the content warning short, because it counts on its own and is not added to the body.
The Mastodon thread maker splits a long draft into posts under your server's limit.
The same text on other networks
One draft gets a different number on every network, because each one counts differently. Here is how the Mastodon limit compares.
| Network | Main limit | How it counts |
|---|---|---|
| X | 280 (post) | weighted: links 23, emoji 2, CJK 2 |
| Bluesky | 300 (post) | graphemes (emoji = 1) plus 3,000 bytes |
| Threads | 500 (post) | UTF-16 code units; links at full length |
Finish polishing before you publish
Your post is within every limit. Now get it seen.
A post that fits is ready to publish. Real favorites, boosts and replies in the first hours are what carry it further on Mastodon.
Get real favorites on your post
Frequently asked questions
What is the Mastodon character limit?
500 characters by default, but each server can set its own, often 1,000 to 5,000.
How do links count on Mastodon?
Every link written with https:// counts as 23 characters, however long it is.
Do mentions of other servers count in full?
No. A mention like @[email protected] counts only as @name.
Does the content warning count toward the post?
It counts against its own limit and is not added to the body of the post.
Is my text uploaded anywhere?
No. The counter runs in your browser and nothing you type leaves the tab.