SMS segments explained: why one text can cost two
Carriers bill by the segment, not the message. A single emoji can double the count.
Short answer
A standard SMS segment holds 160 characters. Longer texts are split into segments of 153 characters each. If a message contains an emoji or other special character, the limits drop to 70 and 67. Carriers bill per segment, so providers do too.
Two character sets
Texts are encoded in GSM-7, which covers plain English letters, numbers and common punctuation, or UCS-2, which covers everything else, including emoji and curly quotes.
| Encoding | One segment | Each segment when split |
|---|---|---|
| GSM-7 | 160 chars | 153 chars |
| UCS-2 | 70 chars | 67 chars |
How to keep counts down
- Replace curly quotes and long dashes with plain ones.
- Put emoji only where they earn their place.
- Link to details instead of pasting them.
The segments field on every Mittis message shows exactly what you were billed for.
Questions
Are inbound segments billed?
Yes, at the same rate as outbound.
Where do I see segment counts?
Every message in the API and the console shows its segment count, and your statement totals them by month.