Does the SMS Character Limit Include Spaces? Yes, Here's How

Does the SMS character limit include spaces? Yes. Every space counts as one character, and punctuation, digits and line breaks also count. A single SMS holds 160 GSM-7 characters or 70 Unicode characters, and a longer message splits into parts. There is no word limit, only a limit on size.

Does the SMS character limit include spaces?

Yes: every space is one character in both GSM-7 and Unicode messages.

The short answer: yes, every space counts

A space counts like any letter: 100 letters and 20 spaces make a 120-character text. SMS has no word limit, only a size limit, so word counts can mislead. Check any text with the SMS character counter.

What else counts: punctuation, digits, line breaks, signature text

Letters, digits, punctuation, spaces, line breaks and signature lines all count. Some characters count as two, and others switch the whole message to Unicode (see below).

How does the SMS character limit work (160, 70, 153 and 67)?

One SMS holds 140 bytes: 160 GSM-7 characters or 70 Unicode characters, and 153 or 67 per part in a longer message.

One SMS = 140 bytes

SMS stands for Short Message Service. 3GPP TS 23.040 sets the format at 140 bytes per message, and 3GPP TS 23.038 sets the alphabet. Background: what SMS stands for and its character limits and the character limit for SMS messages.

GSM-7 vs Unicode (UCS-2)

GSM-7 uses 7 bits per character, so 140 bytes hold 160. Unicode (UCS-2) uses 16 bits, so they hold 70. Urdu and emoji need Unicode.

Why multipart messages hold fewer characters per part

A longer text is sent as several parts, also called segments. Each part carries a header that tells the receiving phone how the parts fit together. The header uses some of the 140 bytes, leaving 153 GSM-7 or 67 Unicode characters per part. Read more in SMS basics.

What switches a message to Unicode and the 70-character limit?

One character outside the GSM-7 alphabet, such as an emoji, an Urdu letter or a curly quote, switches the whole message to Unicode and the 70-character limit.

Emoji, Urdu and other non-Latin letters

The Unicode SMS character limit covers the whole message. A 150-character GSM-7 text fits in one part; add one emoji and it is at least 151 Unicode characters, so it needs 3 parts of 67. Any Urdu letter does the same, but Roman Urdu (Urdu in Latin letters) stays in GSM-7 if it uses only GSM-7 characters.

Smart quotes and long dashes

Curly quotes and long dashes are not in GSM-7, and keyboards or word processors can insert them automatically. Retype them as straight quotes (' and ") and a plain hyphen (-).

Characters that count as two in GSM-7

Some characters stay in GSM-7 but count as two, because 3GPP TS 23.038 sends each as an escape code plus the character: {, }, [, ], ^, ~, the backslash, the vertical bar and the euro sign. A text of 159 ordinary characters plus a euro sign counts as 161.

How do you count an SMS with spaces? A worked example

Count every character one by one, spaces included, and compare the total with 160 for GSM-7 or 70 for Unicode.

Counting by hand

This text uses only plain GSM-7 characters:

Hi Sam, your table for 4 is booked for 7:30 PM tonight. Reply C to cancel, or call us if your plans change.

107 is under 160, so it is one part. Without its 22 spaces you would count 85, which is wrong. Spaces can also tip a text over: 150 non-space characters plus 11 spaces is 161, so it splits into two parts.

When a message becomes 2 or more parts

Now add a space and the emoji 👍 to the end of the same text. That makes at least 109 characters, and the emoji switches the whole message to Unicode, so the limit falls from 160 to 70. At 67 per part, two parts hold 134, so it goes out as 2 parts. The words did not change; one emoji turned 1 part into 2. Paste both versions into the counter to confirm.

How do I check my SMS length before sending?

Paste the text into a character counter, which shows its exact length and number of parts before you send it.

Use a character counter

The SMS character counter shows the length and number of parts. Paste the final text, because a late edit such as a name can change the total. For notifications built in code, test the longest text a template can produce.

Trim spaces and trailing signatures safely

Trimming is optional. Remove only what adds nothing, such as double spaces, trailing spaces or a signature that repeats the message. Never strip the spaces between words; the text becomes hard to read.

Estimate how many parts you will send

A text within 160 (GSM-7) or 70 (Unicode) characters is one part. A longer one needs its length divided by 153 (GSM-7) or 67 (Unicode), rounded up: 300 GSM-7 characters is 300 ÷ 153 = 1.96, so 2 parts; 300 Unicode characters is 300 ÷ 67 = 4.48, so 5 parts. The SMS cost estimator can turn a part count into a rough cost with your own per-part price.

Where to get an online SMS sender

An online SMS sender can come from your mobile operator, an API platform or another provider.

Your mobile operator's business SMS service

Ask your mobile operator whether it offers a business or bulk SMS service, and on what terms.

API platforms such as Twilio or Vonage

Twilio and Vonage are well-known API platforms for sending SMS from software. Check each one's current pricing and coverage on its own site.

Another option

WaSMS is run by the same team as this site. Its details are at wasms.net if you want to compare it with the options above. For how online sending works, see online SMS explained.

Does the SMS character limit include spaces?

Yes. In SMS, a space is one character in both GSM-7 and Unicode, so it counts toward the limit like a letter. One SMS holds 160 GSM-7 or 70 Unicode characters.

Do emojis and special characters count differently from letters?

Yes. One emoji, Urdu letter or curly quote switches the whole SMS to Unicode, cutting the limit from 160 to 70 characters. In GSM-7, { } [ ] ^ ~, backslash, vertical bar and the euro sign count as two characters each.

Why does my text split into several messages when it is under 160 characters?

Usually the text holds an emoji, Urdu letter or curly quote, so the 70-character Unicode limit applies. Extension characters such as { or the euro sign count as two and can also push a text past 160. The FreeSMSGateway SMS character counter shows the exact length and number of parts.

Is there a word limit for text messages, or only a character limit?

SMS has no word limit, only a size limit. One message is 140 bytes, which is 160 GSM-7 or 70 Unicode characters, and longer texts are sent as parts of 153 or 67 characters.

Does a line break count as a character in an SMS?

Yes. A line break counts toward the SMS limit like any other character. Paste your text into the FreeSMSGateway SMS character counter to see the total.

What is the character limit when a message contains Unicode characters?

One SMS with Unicode (UCS-2) characters holds 70 characters. If the message needs several parts, each holds 67, because the header uses part of the 140 bytes.

Sources

• 3GPP TS 23.038: alphabets and language-specific information

• 3GPP TS 23.040: technical realization of the Short Message Service

• FreeSMSGateway SMS character counter

Last checked: November 12, 2026.

Paste your message into the SMS character counter to see its exact length and number of parts.