Character Limits for Every Social Media Platform in 2026

Knowing the character limits for every social media platform is essential for anyone publishing content in 2026. Hit "post" with text that is too long and the platform truncates it mid-sentence; ignore the optimal length and even short posts underperform. Here is the full reference, plus the lengths that actually drive engagement.

The limit vs the sweet spot

Every platform has two numbers that matter: the hard limit (the maximum the platform allows) and the sweet spot (the length that performs best). They are almost never the same. The limit stops you from posting; the sweet spot is where readers actually engage. Aim for the sweet spot, not the ceiling.

X (Twitter)

• Hard limit: 280 characters for standard accounts; premium subscribers can post much longer.
• Sweet spot: 70–100 characters. Short posts get more engagement and leave room for others to quote and add commentary.
• Bio: 160 characters.

LinkedIn

• Post limit: 3,000 characters.
• Sweet spot: 1,200–1,600 characters (roughly 200–250 words). Long enough to deliver value, short enough to finish.
• The "see more" cutoff: only about the first 140 characters show before the fold — front-load your hook.
• Headline: 220 characters. About section: 2,600 characters.

Instagram

• Caption limit: 2,200 characters.
• Visible before "more": about the first 125 characters — put the hook there.
• Sweet spot: varies — punchy 1–2 line captions for reach, longer storytelling captions for saves and comments.
• Bio: 150 characters. Hashtags: up to 30, though 3–5 relevant ones usually beats stuffing.

TikTok

• Caption limit: 2,200 characters (greatly expanded from the old short limit).
• Sweet spot: still keep captions concise — most attention is on the video. A short, curiosity-driven caption works best.
• Bio: 80 characters.

YouTube

• Video title: 100 characters, but only ~70 reliably show in search and suggestions — keep titles tight.
• Description: 5,000 characters; the first 2–3 lines (~150 characters) show above the fold.
• Community post: ~1,500 characters.

Facebook

• Post limit: 63,206 characters — effectively unlimited.
• Sweet spot: short. Posts under ~80 characters consistently get more engagement than long ones.
• Bio: 101 characters.

Why front-loading matters everywhere

Across nearly every platform, only the first ~125–150 characters are visible before a "more" link or a fold. That makes your opening line the most important text you write. Put the hook, the question, or the value proposition first — never bury it after a throat-clearing intro.

A quick reference

| Platform | Hard limit | Aim for | |---|---|---| | X / Twitter | 280 | 70–100 chars | | LinkedIn | 3,000 | 1,200–1,600 chars | | Instagram caption | 2,200 | hook in first 125 | | TikTok caption | 2,200 | short + curious | | YouTube title | 100 | under 70 | | Facebook post | 63,206 | under 80 chars |

Frequently asked questions

What is the character limit on X (Twitter)? 280 characters for standard accounts. Premium subscribers can post much longer, but 70–100 characters tends to perform best.

How long should a LinkedIn post be? Up to 3,000 characters, but 1,200–1,600 (around 200–250 words) drives the most engagement. Front-load the first 140 characters.

How many characters show in an Instagram caption before "more"? About 125 characters. Put your hook in that opening window so it shows without a tap.

What is the best YouTube title length? Under 70 characters. The limit is 100, but longer titles get cut off in search results and suggestions.

Why does post length matter if the limit is huge? Because the limit is not the optimal length. Most platforms show only the first ~125–150 characters before a fold, and shorter posts often engage better.

Count your characters precisely

Stay inside any platform's limit — and nail the sweet spot — with the free Character Counter. For longer-form content, the Word Counter tracks words, characters and reading time as you write.