Does Emojis Affect the Character Limit?
Emojis have become a vital part of digital communication, but their inclusion in SMS messages introduces technical constraints that many users and businesses may not fully understand. Originally, SMS was designed for basic text using the GSM 7-bit character set. However, as texting has evolved, users now incorporate emojis, special characters, and non-Latin symbols into their messages. These additions alter how messages are encoded, often reducing the number of characters that can fit into a single SMS. This article explores how emojis impact SMS character limits, the reasons behind changes in encoding when emojis are used, and the resulting effects on message segmentation, costs, and delivery reliability for both consumers and businesses relying on SaaS or CPaaS messaging platforms.
Why SMS Encoding Changes When Emojis Are Included
SMS was originally built on the GSM 7 bit alphabet, a compact encoding format designed to maximize the number of characters that can fit into a single SMS segment. This format supports only basic Latin letters, numbers, and a small set of symbols. Emojis do not exist within this character set.
When a message includes even one emoji, the encoding format must switch to UCS 2. This is a two byte encoding method created to support Unicode characters, including emojis, accented letters, and many global scripts. UCS 2 requires more data space per character. As a result, the maximum number of characters that can fit into a single SMS segment is reduced dramatically.
How Emojis Reduce the Character Limit
A standard SMS supports up to 160 characters when using GSM 7 bit encoding. If the encoding switches to UCS 2 because of an emoji, the limit drops to 70 characters per segment. This means a message that would normally fit in a single SMS may suddenly split into multiple segments once an emoji is added.
For example, a 90 character message without emojis fits within a single segment. Adding a single emoji triggers UCS 2 and causes the message to be divided into two segments, because the limit has been reduced to 70 characters. This affects billing, delivery time, and how the message appears to recipients.
Why Emojis Increase SMS Costs for Businesses
Most business texting services charge per message segment. When an emoji is included, the encoding switches to UCS 2 and the 70 character limit applies. This can double or triple the number of segments, which increases cost directly.
Many businesses unintentionally send multi segment messages because the inclusion of emojis was not considered during message creation. A single heart or smiley face can turn a simple SMS into a more expensive one. For high volume messaging, this can quickly add up.
This is why careful testing and character counting are essential for marketing teams, product managers, and developers who work with automated SMS campaigns or transactional alerts.
How Emojis Affect Delivery and User Experience
Messages with emojis generally deliver reliably, but segmentation can impact how the message is received. Most modern phones reassemble multi segment messages into one seamless text, but not all devices handle this perfectly. Older phones may separate segments or display broken message formatting.
For businesses sending time sensitive alerts, it is important to ensure that the full message arrives intact. Using emojis can introduce unexpected formatting changes, especially if the recipient's device or carrier handles Unicode inconsistently.
Still, emojis can improve engagement and readability when used intentionally. They help draw attention to promotional messages and create a friendly tone in customer service messaging. The key is using them strategically and with awareness of their technical impact.
How to Avoid Unintentional Character Limit Problems
To manage the character limit effectively, businesses should monitor message encoding within their messaging platform. Many platforms provide an encoding indicator that shows whether a message is using GSM or UCS 2. It is also helpful to avoid special characters that trigger Unicode, such as curly quotes, certain symbols, or accented characters, unless truly necessary.
For brands that depend heavily on emojis for marketing identity, testing with multiple carriers and devices is important. This ensures that messages appear consistently and do not cause unexpected segmentation or delivery delays.
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