SMS Character Limit

Standard SMS Character Limit

A standard SMS message supports up to 160 characters using the GSM-7 character set (including basic Latin letters, numbers, and common symbols).

If your message contains any Unicode character (such as emojis or non-Latin letters), it will be encoded using the UCS-2 character set, and the limit per message drops to 70 characters.

What happens when a message exceeds the limit?

When an SMS exceeds the character limit:

• It is split into multiple parts before being sent.

• Each part is billed as an individual SMS.

Encoding	Message Limit	SMS Part Text Limit
GSM-7	160 characters	153 characters
UCS-2	70 characters	67 characters

For example:

• A GSM-7 message with 161 characters will be sent in 2 parts (153 + 8 characters).

• A UCS-2 message with 150 characters will be sent in 3 parts (67 + 67 + 16).

Use the following tool to calculate how many parts your message will generate:

Messaging Segment Calculatortwiliodeved.github.io

Be cautious with Special Characters

Even one Unicode character (like an emoji or changes from " to ') will trigger UCS-2 encoding and reduce the character limit per SMS.

If your text editor changes " to “ — a 'curly' quote mark—you will have a UCS-2 character in your message, reducing the character limit from 160 to 70.

Common mistakes that cause UCS-2 encoding:

• Emojis (😊, 🎉, etc.)

• Smart quotes: “ ” instead of ' '

• Special dashes or accented characters not in GSM-7

Best Practices to Reduce SMS Cost

• Use plain text and GSM-7 compatible characters when possible.

• Keep messages concise.

• If using long messages, try to stay below 153 characters per part.

• Always test your message content before sending a campaign.

For more information about special characters, please visit the following article:

GSM 03.38Wikipedia