Paste or type text to see character count and UTF-8 byte size. Updates as you type. Useful for API limits, SMS, and database field limits. Runs in your browser.
Characters
0
Bytes (UTF-8)
0
Words
0
Lines
0
About Character & Byte Count
This tool shows the length of your text in characters and in UTF-8 bytes. Character count is the number of Unicode code points (what you see). Byte count is the size in UTF-8 encoding, which matters for APIs, databases, and SMS. Words and lines are also counted.
How to use
- Paste or type text in the box. Counts update automatically.
- Use the numbers to check limits (e.g. 160 characters for SMS, 255 bytes for a column).
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do characters and bytes differ?
In UTF-8, one character can use 1–4 bytes. For example, "A" is 1 byte, "é" is 2, and many emoji are 4. This tool shows both.
Is my text sent to a server?
No. Counting is done in your browser using JavaScript.
What is the byte count used for?
APIs and databases often limit by bytes (e.g. 255 bytes). SMS has character/segment limits. This helps you stay within limits.