The standard SMS character limit encoded in the GSM language is 160 characters, including spaces. GSM is the standard language for SMS that allows you to use Latin letters A to Z, numbers 0 to 9, and some special characters (e.g., exclamation marks).
Any SMS messages containing more than 160 characters will be split into segments of 153 characters (also known as concatenated messages). This means that a 180-character message will be sent as a 153-character message followed by a 27-character message.
Why are SMS messages limited to 160 characters?
When SMS was first introduced in the 1990s, mobile networks had limited capacity to handle data. To ensure messages could be sent quickly and reliably without overloading the system, a 160-character limit was set. This helped optimize the use of available network space and ensured messages were delivered efficiently.
Although technology has improved over time, the 160 SMS character limit remains in place to maintain the reliability and efficiency of SMS across different devices and networks.
SMS message character encoding
When you send a text, the way it’s written affects how many letters can fit. Most texts use something called GSM-7, which lets you fit up to 160 Latin characters in one message, like regular letters and numbers.
But, if you use non Latin characters or special characters, like emojis or letters from other languages (like Chinese or Arabic), your SMS messages will be automatically converted to Unicode language (UCS), and it can only hold 70 characters. If your message is too long, it breaks into smaller parts, and each part costs extra. So, a message with more characters means more parts and higher costs.
SMS transliteration can help you replace unsupported characters with similar characters from the GSM alphabet, letting you fit up to 160 characters without switching to Unicode.
NOTE: Any messages that exceed this limit will be split into 153 characters, while messages outside the GSM-7-character set (i.e., Unicode) are reduced from 70 to 67 characters. For example, a message containing 80 UCS-2 characters will be sent as one 67-character message followed by a 13-character message.
Pro tip: When sending SMS over Infobip platform, the characters in your messages will be counted automatically. If you exceed the limit, you will see the total number of segments your messages will be divided into. You can also choose the character set (language) you are writing in.
What about the costs for messages over the character limit?
Although most mobile phones combine separate messages into one when they reach their destination (i.e., your customers will see one long message rather than several ones) – you will be charged for each message segment.
So, for example, if you send a GSM-encoded message with 165 characters, you will be charged twice – once for the first 153 characters and once again for the remaining 12 characters. The same goes for Unicode messages, but the limit for a single message is 70 characters in that case.
How to increase text message character limit?
Unfortunately, you can’t circumvent the limits of a single SMS, so the best way to experience high ROI is to stay within the limit. Exceeding it will result in higher charges, questionable deliverability, and a potentially fragmented customer experience.
Staying within limits will also ensure you include only relevant content for your customers, leaving out unnecessary words, phrases, and details. This will simplify your communication and improve customer satisfaction.
Pro tip: If you usually communicate with customers in a language that requires UCS characters, try transforming them into GSM characters. This will increase your message limit so you can send more than 70 characters in one message.
National Language Shift is a good example of an encoding technology that allows an SMS containing 16-bit Unicode to be delivered as GSM text while deducting only five characters from the maximum SMS length. This way, you get 155 characters instead of the usual 70 characters.
Tips and tricks on how to maximize your SMS text messages
Here are some easy tips to help you send shorter, clearer text messages so you stay within the text message character limit. These strategies will help you save space and avoid extra charges:
Keep it short and simple
Use clear, concise language to get your message across quickly. Avoid unnecessary words and phrases that don’t add value. For example, instead of saying “I am writing to inform you,” simply say “I’m letting you know.” This helps you stay within the SMS limit.
Be careful with copy/pasting
If you copy and paste from a word processor, hidden symbols might sneak in and mess up your message. Instead, copy from a simple text editor to avoid those symbols.
Use SMS templates for consistency
You can use messaging templates from an SMS provider or create your own to ensure messages are consistent, short, and concise.
Shorten links
By using URL shortening, the system turns long links into shorter, more trustworthy-looking URLs, which still lead to the same place. This makes users more likely to click. In addition, with tracking options, you can measure clicks and improve your strategy.
Avoid emojis and special characters
Emojis and special symbols can reduce the number of characters you can use. They may force your message into UCS-2 encoding, which limits you to 70 characters instead of 160. Stick to regular letters and numbers to maximize the message length.
Use MMS or RCS
Alternatively, use MMS or RCS, which support longer messages and can include multimedia like images or links, making them a great option for more detailed communication.
NOTE: RCS is considered the next step in the evolution of SMS, supporting rich OTT features such as a verified sender, custom branding, cards, carousels, group chats, suggested actions, and analytics. Also, RCS allows you to send messages with up to 1000 characters.
Other questions about SMS character limit
SMS has a limit because mobile networks had limited capacity when this channel was first introduced in the 1990s. It was restricted to a fixed length to maximize efficiency and ensure widespread deliverability. While other channels have emerged over time, SMS remains a fundamental service because of its ubiquity and reliability.
Yes, the SMS character limit includes spaces, for both GSM and Unicode languages.
If you send an SMS message over 160 characters (the GSM standard), your messages will automatically be divided into shorter segments (also known as concatenated messages), with additional costs (you will pay for each message segment). The concatenated segments are displayed as a single message on the recipient’s device.
However, remember that some devices may not handle concatenation correctly, resulting in fragmented messages.
If you want to include multimedia content (like photos or videos), consider using MMS or newer RCS Business Messaging, a rich messaging channel native to Android that is now available on iOS devices.
Count the number of characters in your message, including letters, numbers, spaces, and punctuation. If your message contains non-Latin characters (including emojis or special symbols), your messages will be encoded in Unicode. Note that messages with Unicode characters have a different limit than messages encoded in the GSM alphabet (70 vs. 160 characters).
When sending SMS over our platform, the characters in your messages will be counted automatically. If you exceed the limit, you will see the total number of segments your messages will be divided into. You can also choose the character set (language) you are writing in. Feel free to try it for free by signing up here.
Unlike SMS, MMS does not have strict character limits for text. Standard text lengths for MMS can be up to 1600 characters, and some operators allow more (provided the message does not exceed the allowed MMS size).
Maximum MMS sizes vary depending on the mobile network operator, but all operators will reliably handle messages of up to 300 KB of data.
Read more about MMS message types Message Types using MMS (infobip.com) .
Stay within SMS character limit for optimal results
Try testing the length of your messages
