Mastodon Character Counter
Mastodon's default post limit is 500 characters, but unlike Twitter or Threads, this is set per-instance and can be raised. Some instances allow 5,000 or even unlimited posts. The counter below assumes the default. If you're on a custom-limit instance, paste your text and check against that instance's cap.
Default — varies by instance
Mastodon Character Limits Cheatsheet
| Field | Character limit |
|---|---|
| Post (toot) | 500 |
| Bio | 500 |
| Display name | 30 |
| Username | 30 |
| Content warning | 100 |
Why does Mastodon have this character limit?
Mastodon is federated software — there's no central authority setting a uniform character limit. The default 500-character toot limit was chosen by founder Eugen Rochko to balance Twitter-style brevity with room for nuance. Instance administrators can raise the limit; mastodon.online keeps the 500 default, while masto.host and others may allow much longer posts.
Tips for Writing Better Mastodon Content
1Check your instance's actual limit
If your instance allows 5,000 characters, the 500-character default doesn't apply to you. Look at your instance's settings page.
2Content warnings cost no characters
CW text is separate from your toot's 500-character body. Use CWs generously for sensitive content — it's a community norm.
3Threads ('reply chains') keep ideas connected
Like Twitter threads, reply chains let you extend past the character limit while keeping context together.
4Hashtags are central to discovery
Mastodon has no full-text search by default. Hashtags are the primary discovery mechanism — use 2–4 relevant ones.
5Bios run to 500 characters
Unlike Twitter's 160, Mastodon gives you 500 characters for your profile bio. Use them — Mastodon users actually read profiles.
Need More Than a Character Count?
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