Pick a formula, fill the blanks, get a post that fits
Choose a writing formula, answer a few short prompts, and watch the post come together. The counter follows X's own rules, so links count as 23 and emoji as 2. Long draft? Split it into a numbered thread below.
Formula builder
2. Fill the blanks
3. Your post
0 / 280
Edits you make here are kept until you change a field or switch variant.
Thread splitter
Paste text that's too long for one post. The splitter breaks it at paragraph and sentence boundaries so each post stays within 280 characters, numbering included.
How X counts characters
X doesn't count characters one by one. It gives each character a weight, and a standard post can hold 280 units. The builder and the splitter use the same rules.
Mentions that X adds automatically at the start of a reply don't count against the limit. Photos and videos you attach don't count either. Subscribers to X's paid plans can write longer posts, up to 25,000 characters, but most people read only the first few lines before the "Show more" cut.
| What you type | Counts as |
|---|---|
| Latin letters, digits, punctuation, spaces | 1 each |
| Any link, short or long | 23 |
| An emoji, including skin tones and flags | 2 |
| Chinese, Japanese or Korean characters | 2 each |
| Line breaks | 1 each |
Writing guides
- Writing Hooks That Earn the ClickA hook makes a specific promise and the rest of the post keeps it. Specifics beat cleverness.
- How to Structure a Thread on XOpen with a promise, give one idea per post, and end with a recap. Most threads are too long.
- Editing a Post Down to Fit 280 CharactersCut the warm-up, the hedges and the second idea, in that order. Then check the count the way X does.
- Writing for Replies, Not Just LikesLeave room for the reader, ask questions people can answer, go first, and reply back.
- Avoiding Engagement Bait That X and Its Users PunishSome bait breaks X's spam rules. More of it is allowed but makes readers mute you. Either way, ask for responses honestly.
Questions
- How does the character counter work?
- It follows the rules X publishes for counting. Most letters, numbers and punctuation count as one character, emoji and characters from scripts such as Chinese or Japanese count as two, and every link counts as 23 no matter how long it is. Free accounts can post up to 280.
- Is anything I type saved or sent anywhere?
- No. The builder runs in your browser and nothing you type leaves your device. If you reload the page, the fields are cleared.
- Will a formula make my posts go viral?
- No formula can promise reach. A formula gives you a structure so you spend your time on the idea and the specific details, which is what readers respond to. Treat the output as a draft and edit it in your own voice.
- Can I post longer than 280 characters?
- X subscribers can write longer posts, up to 25,000 characters. Everyone else can split longer text into a thread, which the thread splitter on this page does for you.
Tweet Formula is an independent writing tool. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by X Corp., and it never connects to your X account.