Use this free caption length checker to see exactly how much of your caption displays before the "...more" cut-off on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and LinkedIn. Write your caption once, check it works on every platform, then post with confidence.
Ever write a great caption and then realise half of it gets cut off before anyone even taps 'more'? On Instagram, only the first 125 characters show in the feed — your hook has to live in that window. On TikTok it's even shorter. Knowing exactly where the cut-off lands helps you put the most important words first, every time.
Paste your caption in and this tool tells you instantly whether it's within the visible range for each platform. It works for Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, YouTube descriptions and LinkedIn — so you can check everything in one place before you publish.
Step 1 — Paste or type your caption. Drop your full caption text into the input box. The character count updates live as you type, so you can also write directly in the tool if you prefer.
Step 2 — Check the platform breakdown. Look at the count for whichever platform you're posting to. Instagram shows a warning if you're over 125 characters for the above-the-fold section. Twitter flags anything over 280.
Step 3 — Trim or adjust your hook. If you're over the visible limit, move your most compelling line to the very start. The goal isn't always to be short — it's to make sure the first sentence always does the work of getting the reader to tap 'more'.
Hiding your hook below the cut-off. If your most interesting sentence is at line three of your Instagram caption, most people will never see it. Write the hook first — curiosity, a bold claim, a question — and then elaborate below.
Treating all platforms the same. A Twitter caption needs to land in 280 characters. An Instagram caption can breathe at 2,200. What works as a TikTok caption (short, punchy) would look underdeveloped on LinkedIn. Check the limits for wherever you're actually posting.
Counting manually. Eyeballing character counts leads to errors and wasted time. It takes about two seconds to paste text into a checker. Just do it before you publish rather than guessing.
Instagram shows the first 125 characters in the feed before adding a '...more' link. After you tap 'more' the full caption up to 2,200 characters is visible. Your hook needs to live in those first 125.
Twitter/X allows 280 characters per post. Links count as 23 characters regardless of their actual length. If you go over 280, the post won't send.
TikTok allows up to 2,200 characters in a caption now, but only a small portion is visible before the user taps to expand. Keep the most important content upfront, ideally in the first 100-150 characters.
Not necessarily — longer captions on Instagram and LinkedIn can actually perform well if the content is genuinely valuable. The key is a strong hook that earns the reader's attention in the first line.
Captions that exceed the visible preview length get cut off with a "...more" prompt. Most users never tap to expand. If your hook, key message or CTA falls after the cut-off, it's effectively invisible. Checking length before posting ensures your most important text is always seen.