Social Media Specs
Social Media Character Limits
Hard limits are only half the story. What matters day to day is the truncation point, the number of characters shown before the feed cuts you off with a more link. I have listed both, because writing to the truncation point is what actually changes read rates.
| Platform | Field | Maximum characters | Practical truncation |
|---|---|---|---|
| X (Twitter) | Post, standard account | 280 | 280, no truncation |
| Feed caption | 2,200 | Around 125 before 'more' | |
| Post text | Over 60,000 | Around 250 before 'See more' | |
| Feed post | 3,000 | Around 200 before 'see more' | |
| TikTok | Video caption | 2,200 | Around 100 before expansion |
| YouTube | Video description | 5,000 | Around 150 before 'Show more' |
| YouTube | Video title | 100 | Around 60 in most surfaces |
| Pin description | 500 | Around 50 on the grid |
| Platform | Field | Maximum characters |
|---|---|---|
| Bio | 150 | |
| X (Twitter) | Bio | 160 |
| TikTok | Bio | 80 |
| Headline | 220 | |
| About section | 2,600 | |
| YouTube | Channel description | 1,000 |
| Page short description | 255 |
Notes
Write the first line as if it is the whole post, because for most of your audience it is. On LinkedIn and Instagram the opening 100 to 200 characters do all the work: they decide whether anyone taps to expand, and expansion is itself a ranking signal on several platforms.
Do not spend the hook on context. Lead with the claim, the number or the tension, then give the setup after the fold. A line like 'We cut cost per lead by 61 percent by deleting half the campaign' outperforms 'I wanted to share some learnings from a recent project' every time, and it costs the same characters.
Emoji and non Latin characters can count as more than one character in some fields, and links are counted differently per platform. X, for example, counts all links as a fixed length regardless of the actual URL. If you are within ten characters of a limit, paste and check in the composer rather than trusting a word counter.
These limits shift, particularly on X where paid tiers carry much longer limits, and on TikTok where caption length has been increased more than once. Confirm against the platform help centre before you build a template around an exact number.
Frequently asked questions
How long should a LinkedIn post actually be?
Most of my best performing posts land between 900 and 1,600 characters. Long enough to make a real argument, short enough that the reader can see the end. The 3,000 limit is not a target.
Do hashtags count toward the caption limit?
Yes, on every major platform hashtags consume the same character budget as body copy. If you use many hashtags on Instagram, put them in a first comment to keep the caption clean.
Official sources
Platforms change specifications without notice. Check the primary documentation before a launch that depends on an exact value.
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More Social Media Specs
Social Media Image Sizes
Current image dimensions and aspect ratios for Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, X, TikTok, YouTube and Pinterest, in one scannable table.
Instagram Specs
Instagram image sizes, Reels and Stories video specs, caption and bio limits, and file requirements in one reference.
LinkedIn Specs
LinkedIn image dimensions, video specs, character limits for posts, headlines and articles, plus document post requirements.
TikTok Specs
TikTok video dimensions, aspect ratio, length limits, caption and bio character counts, and safe zone guidance for creators.
YouTube Specs
YouTube video resolutions, thumbnail and banner sizes, title and description limits, and Shorts requirements in one table.
X (Twitter) Specs
X post character limits, image and video dimensions, header and profile sizes, and card requirements for marketers.