Segments
1
GSM-7 160 characters per segment
Every character is in the GSM-7 alphabet.
How SMS length is counted
Text messages are sent in segments. Which alphabet your text uses decides how much fits in each one:
| Encoding | Single text | Per segment when longer | Used when |
|---|---|---|---|
| GSM-7 | 160 characters | 153 characters | Every character is in the GSM-7 alphabet |
| Unicode (UCS-2) | 70 characters | 67 characters | Any character outside it — emoji, curly quotes, many symbols |
GSM-7 covers the English alphabet, digits, common punctuation and a set of accented letters such as é, ü, ñ and à. The characters ^ { } \ [ ] ~ | and € are allowed but count as two. Emoji and characters like “ ” ’ — … usually sneak in when you copy text from a word processor or phone — the replace button above swaps the common ones for plain equivalents.
Tips for shorter, cheaper texts
- Put your store name first. Recipients need to know who's texting — and it counts towards the length, so keep it short.
- Leave room for the opt-out. “Reply STOP to opt out” is 21 characters.
- Use one tracked link. A long URL eats characters; a short tracked link also counts clicks.
- Think twice about emoji. One emoji can double the cost of a 100-character message.
In Trisend, the SMS composer counts the text as it will be sent — with your store name, shortened links and opt-out wording added — and shows the credits it will use before you schedule it. See SMS marketing for Shopify.
Frequently asked questions
How many characters fit in one SMS?
160 characters in the standard GSM-7 alphabet, or 70 if the text contains any character outside it (Unicode / UCS-2). Longer texts are split into segments of 153 (GSM-7) or 67 (Unicode) characters, because each part carries a small header that lets the phone join them back together.
Why does one emoji make my text cost more?
An emoji isn't in the GSM-7 alphabet, so the whole message switches to Unicode encoding, where each segment holds 70 characters instead of 160. A 150-character text goes from one segment to three.
Which characters count as two?
The GSM-7 extension characters — ^ { } \ [ ] ~ | and € — are sent with an escape character, so each one counts as two towards the limit.
Is my text sent anywhere?
No. The counter runs entirely in your browser; nothing you type leaves the page.
More guides & tools
Send texts that follow the rules
Trisend handles consent, quiet hours, opt-outs and your own US & Canada number.