Twitter's standard tweet limit is 280 characters for most languages, doubled from the original 140-character limit in 2017. Twitter Blue subscribers get a whopping 25,000 characters. URLs count as just 23 characters regardless of length. Chinese, Japanese, and Korean users still face a 140-character limit due to information density differences. Emojis take up two character spaces each. Threading offers a workaround for those with more to say.
While many users might grumble about Twitter's restrictions, the platform's character limits have evolved considerably since its early days. The standard tweet limit now sits at 280 characters for most languages, doubled from the original 140-character constraint back in 2017. That's right – twice the space for your hot takes and breakfast updates.
Still not enough? Tough luck. Unless you're willing to pay.
Twitter Blue subscribers get a whopping 25,000 characters to play with. Introduced in 2023, this premium feature lets paying users write what fundamentally amounts to full-blown articles without leaving the platform. No more annoying thread posts. Just one massive wall of text. Progress? Much like text detection tools, Twitter's systems analyze content patterns and structure to maintain platform quality. Similar to ByteDance's restrictions, Twitter faces ongoing scrutiny over its content moderation and data handling practices.
The way Twitter counts characters isn't exactly straightforward. Their algorithm treats certain Unicode characters differently, and emoji typically count as two characters despite appearing as one. URLs are always counted as 23 characters regardless of their actual length – a small mercy for those sharing lengthy links. The original 140 limit was established to accommodate SMS updates which had a 160-character limit.
Twitter's character counting logic defies simplicity with its quirky handling of emojis and standardized URL lengths.
Chinese, Japanese, and Korean users still face the original 140-character limit. But it's not discrimination. These languages pack more information into fewer characters. One CJK character equals roughly two Latin characters with respect to information density. So they're not actually getting less space to express themselves.
Direct messages operate on an entirely different scale. Users can send private messages up to 10,000 characters long. That's enough for a short story. This limit applies to everyone – premium or not.
And don't forget about your bio. You've got precisely 160 characters to summarize your entire personality. Good luck with that. Adding more emojis won't extend it, and even Twitter Blue can't buy you more space here.
For those who prefer threading their thoughts, both premium and non-premium users can publish up to 50 posts in a thread, though free users remain restricted to the 280-character limit per post.
The evolution of these limits reflects Twitter's awkward growth from simple text-based updates to a platform hosting diverse content formats. Some love the constraints. Others despise them.
Either way, they're fundamental to Twitter's identity. Character limits force brevity. Sometimes that's exactly what we need.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I Edit a Tweet After Posting It?
Yes, tweet editing exists—but only for Twitter Blue subscribers.
They can edit within 30 minutes of posting, with a maximum of 5 edits per tweet.
Everyone sees the "Last edited" label and can view edit history. Regular users? Out of luck.
The feature has limitations too: no editing replies or retweets, and your likes/retweets reset after editing.
Good for fixing typos, but edit wisely—context matters.
Do Images and Videos Count Toward the Character Limit?
No, images and videos don't count toward Twitter's 280-character limit.
Users can attach up to 4 images, 1 GIF, or a video while still using their full character allowance for text.
Pretty convenient. Media files have their own restrictions though—images max out at 5MB, videos can be up to 2 minutes 20 seconds, and GIFs top out at 15MB.
Links, however? Those will cost you 23 characters regardless of length.
Why Are Some Tweets Longer Than the Character Limit?
Some tweets exceed the 280-character limit through workarounds.
Twitter Blue subscribers ($8/month) get a whopping 4,000 characters.
Regular users employ hacks like screenshot dumps from Notes apps or thread their thoughts together.
Quote tweets add 280 more characters.
Third-party tools like TwitLonger post snippets with links to full text.
Also, images, videos, and polls don't count toward the limit.
Clever, right?
How Do Thread Tweets Work?
Thread tweets let users string multiple tweets together.
They're visible as separate posts but connected in sequence.
Users create them by hitting the plus icon after composing their first tweet.
Twitter limits posting to 20 tweets at once, but there's no cap on total thread length.
Not rocket science.
Threads fundamentally bypass the 280-character limit, letting people ramble on forever.
Sometimes useful, sometimes overkill.
Can I Schedule Tweets to Post Later?
Yes, scheduling tweets is absolutely an option.
Twitter's native tool lets users schedule posts up to 18 months ahead—right from the app or browser.
Got ambitions beyond basic scheduling? Third-party tools like Hootsuite or Buffer exist for that.
X Premium subscribers can even schedule monster tweets up to 25,000 characters.
The system's not perfect, but it keeps your feed active while you're busy living life.
Simple.
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