SMS Character Counter and SMS Length Calculator
Paste your message into this free SMS character counter to see its length, whether it is GSM-7 or Unicode, and how many SMS parts it will use. Fix long messages before you register a DLT template or pay for extra credits.
An SMS character counter shows how many characters your message has and how many SMS parts it needs. In English (GSM-7), one SMS holds 160 characters, or 153 per part when split. In Unicode, such as Tamil, Hindi or emoji, one SMS holds 70 characters, or 67 per part when split.
SMS character & segment counter
Paste your message. See characters, SMS parts, encoding and DLT tips instantly.
GSM-7 or Unicode
See instantly which encoding your message uses and why.
Part count
Know how many SMS credits each message will use before sending.
Variable aware
Estimate length with real values in place of {#var#}.
Free to use
No signup needed. Paste, count and edit as often as you like.
GSM-7 vs Unicode: why your SMS length changes
Plain English letters, numbers and common symbols use GSM-7 encoding. One SMS holds 160 characters, and a longer message splits into parts of 153. Tamil, Hindi, Malayalam and other Indian scripts use Unicode, which holds 70 characters, or 67 per part when split.
One Unicode character switches the whole message to Unicode. A smart quote pasted from Word, a rupee symbol or a single emoji can turn a 150-character English SMS into three parts.
Some GSM-7 characters also count double. Square brackets, curly braces, the backslash, the tilde, the caret, the pipe and the euro sign each take two characters. The counter on this page adds them correctly, so the part count you see is the part count you pay for.
How {#var#} affects your SMS character count
In a DLT template, {#var#} marks a value that changes, such as a name or amount. Each variable can hold up to 30 characters. The counter shows the template length, but you pay for the length after the values go in.
Test with your longest real values. A template that fits in 160 characters with the name Ravi can split once a customer named Balasubramanian gets it. The same goes for amounts, order numbers and links.
Remember that the template wording on DLT is fixed. If you shorten a message after approval, the new wording must be registered again, so get the length right before you submit.
How to shorten an SMS
Saving one part on every message adds up fast. On 50,000 messages a month, dropping from two parts to one halves the bill.
- Replace curly quotes and dashes with plain ones to stay in GSM-7.
- Drop greetings like 'Dear Customer' when the brand signature already identifies you.
- Use short date formats such as 05-Nov.
- Use your own short domain, since public URL shorteners are blocked.
- Cut the template, then re-register it on DLT.
When a longer message is worth it
Sometimes two parts are fine. A hospital discharge note or a loan statement summary may need the space, and splitting it into two separate SMS would cost the same and arrive out of order. Keep OTPs and alerts to one part, and accept two parts only when the content truly needs it.
Sending outside India too?
We also send SMS and WhatsApp messages to customers abroad, with help on each country's sender ID and consent rules.
How it works
Paste your message
Type or paste the SMS, including any {#var#} placeholders.
Check encoding and parts
See the character count, encoding and number of SMS parts.
Edit until it fits
Remove special characters or extra words to save a part.
Frequently asked questions
How many characters are allowed in one SMS?
One English SMS using GSM-7 encoding holds 160 characters. If the message is longer, it splits into parts of 153 characters each, because some space is used to join the parts. A Unicode SMS, such as Tamil, Hindi or emoji, holds 70 characters, or 67 per part when split.
Why does my English SMS count as Unicode?
Your message likely contains a character outside the GSM-7 set. Common causes are curly quotes or long dashes copied from Word, emoji, the rupee symbol or special bullets. Replace them with plain keyboard characters and the message switches back to GSM-7, which allows 160 characters per part.
How are long SMS charged?
Each part of a long SMS is charged as one SMS. A 200-character English message uses two parts, so it costs two credits. A 150-character Tamil message uses three parts. Checking length with the counter before you send helps you avoid paying for parts you do not need.
Does {#var#} count toward the SMS length?
Yes, but at the length of the value that replaces it. Each DLT variable can hold up to 30 characters. When you check length, replace every {#var#} with the longest realistic value, such as a long name or amount, so you know the worst-case number of parts.
Do emoji work in SMS?
Emoji can be sent, but they switch the whole message to Unicode, which cuts the limit from 160 to 70 characters per part. Some older phones may also show them as boxes. For most business SMS, plain text is the safer and cheaper choice.
Send your first SMS today
From ₹0.15 per delivered SMS, credits valid for a year, and DLT help from a real person.