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Mastodon Tool

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

0 / 500(500 left)
Words
0
No spaces
0
Lines
0

Mastodon Character Limits Cheatsheet

FieldCharacter limit
Post (toot)500
Bio500
Display name30
Username30
Content warning100

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?

Our main Character Counter shows word count, sentence count, reading time, and a full statistical breakdown of your text — alongside live character counts for every major platform.

📊Open Full Character Counter

Mastodon Character Counter FAQ

The default is 500 characters per post (called a 'toot'), but Mastodon is federated — individual instances can set their own limits, sometimes much higher.

Character Counters for Other Platforms

Free Character Counter for Every Platform

Track character limits for Mastodon and 14 other social platforms — all 100% free, no sign-up, runs in your browser.

📊Try the Full Character Counter