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SMS Segment Calculator

Free message segment counter for GSM-7 and UCS-2 encoding. Instantly count segments, headers, and bytes. Built by Blooio the best way to send iMessages from anywhere.

Encoding

Auto: Uses GSM-7 when possible, UCS-2 for non-GSM characters
GSM-7: 7-bit encoding, 160 chars/SMS, basic Latin + symbols
UCS-2: 16-bit encoding, 70 chars/SMS, supports all Unicode

110,000

SMS Segment Details

Encoding:GSM-7
Segments:0
Total Size:0 bytes
Characters:0
Estimated Cost:$0.0000

Character Counter

0/160
Single segment160 remaining

Copy & Export

Cost Estimation

Current rate:$0.0083 per SMS
⚠️ Note: Twilio pricing does not include carrier fees. Additional fees may apply for A2P registration, toll-free verification, and carrier pass-through charges. View full pricing details
0 segments × $0.0083$0.0000

Text Segmentation Preview

Message segments will appear here

Hex Encoded Segments

Hex representation of message segments will appear here

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About SMS Segment Calculation

What is an SMS Segment Calculator?

An SMS segment calculator (also called a text segment calculator or message segment counter) is an essential tool for developers and businesses sending SMS messages through APIs. It calculates how many message segments your text will consume based on character count and encoding type (GSM-7 or UCS-2). Since SMS providers like Twilio charge per segment, this Twilio segment calculator helps you estimate costs accurately.

How SMS Segments Work

SMS messages have strict character limits that depend on the encoding type:

  • GSM-7 encoding: 160 characters in a single segment, 153 characters per segment in multi-part messages
  • UCS-2 encoding: 70 characters in a single segment, 67 characters per segment in multi-part messages

Multi-part messages use 6-7 bytes for concatenation headers, which is why the character limit is reduced. Our segment calculator automatically detects which encoding your message requires and calculates the exact number of segments.

Why Use a Twilio Segment Calculator?

When using Twilio or other SMS APIs, accurate segment counting is crucial for cost management and message optimization. This Twilio SMS segment calculator shows you not just the segment count, but also header bytes, payload size, and hex representation - all essential for debugging SMS gateway integrations and understanding exactly what you're sending.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an SMS segment calculator?▼

An SMS segment calculator is a tool that helps you determine how many message segments your text will use. SMS messages are limited to 160 characters for GSM-7 encoding or 70 characters for UCS-2 (Unicode). Messages longer than these limits are split into multiple segments with additional header bytes.

How does the Twilio segment calculator work?▼

The Twilio segment calculator analyzes your message text to determine the encoding type (GSM-7 or UCS-2), counts characters, and calculates how many segments will be used. It also shows header bytes, total payload bytes, and hex representation - crucial information for SMS API implementations with Twilio and other providers.

What's the difference between GSM-7 and UCS-2 encoding?▼

GSM-7 is a 7-bit encoding that supports 160 characters per segment for basic Latin characters. UCS-2 is a 16-bit Unicode encoding that supports 70 characters per segment and is required for emojis, special characters, and non-Latin scripts. Multi-part messages use 153 characters (GSM-7) or 67 characters (UCS-2) per segment due to header overhead.

Why do I need a message segment counter?▼

A message segment counter helps you optimize SMS costs and delivery. SMS providers like Twilio charge per segment, so knowing your segment count before sending helps estimate costs. It also helps ensure your messages fit within carrier limits and display properly to recipients.

How many characters fit in one SMS segment?▼

Single SMS segments contain 160 characters for GSM-7 encoding or 70 characters for UCS-2 (Unicode). Multi-part messages have reduced capacity: 153 characters per segment for GSM-7 or 67 characters per segment for UCS-2, due to the concatenation header (6-7 bytes) required to reassemble the message.

Use Cases for This SMS Calculator

For Developers

  • Twilio SMS integration testing
  • API message payload debugging
  • Cost estimation for SMS campaigns
  • Character encoding validation

For Businesses

  • SMS marketing message optimization
  • Bulk SMS cost calculation
  • Multi-language message planning
  • Compliance and character limits

How to Use This Text Segment Calculator

Step 1: Enter Your Message

Type or paste your SMS message into the text area. The segment counter will automatically analyze your text in real-time as you type.

Step 2: Review Segment Count

Check the SMS Segment Details panel to see how many segments your message will use. The SMS calculator shows encoding type (GSM-7 or UCS-2), total characters, and data size.

Step 3: Optimize if Needed

If your message uses more segments than expected, enable Smart Encoding to automatically convert Unicode punctuation to GSM-7 characters. This message segment calculator feature can often reduce your message from UCS-2 to GSM-7 encoding, cutting costs significantly.

Step 4: View Technical Details

Scroll down to see the text segmentation preview and hex-encoded segments. This is particularly useful when integrating with Twilio or other SMS APIs, as you can see exactly how your message will be split and encoded.

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