🔡 What is the Character Limit for a Single SMS Message in Both English and Hindi?
SMS character limits are determined by the encoding type used. English uses the GSM 7-bit encoding, while Hindi (and other regional languages) use Unicode (UCS-2 encoding). Understanding these limits is essential to avoid message splitting and additional charges.
📘 English SMS (GSM 7-bit)
- Single SMS: 160 characters
- Concatenated SMS (Multipart): If your message exceeds 160 characters, it is split into multiple parts of 153 characters each.
- Example: A 320-character message will be sent as 3 SMS (153 + 153 + 14).
📗 Hindi or Regional Language SMS (Unicode - UCS-2)
- Single SMS: 70 characters
- Concatenated SMS (Multipart): Messages longer than 70 characters are split into parts of 67 characters each.
- Example: A 134-character Hindi message will be sent as 2 SMS (67 + 67).
📊 Summary Table
| Language | Encoding | Single SMS Limit | Multipart Segment Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| English | GSM 7-bit | 160 characters | 153 characters |
| Hindi / Unicode | UCS-2 | 70 characters | 67 characters |
💡 Pro Tip
Use SMS character counters available in CRM or SMS platforms (like Muzztech's dashboard) to monitor your message length and avoid unintentional splitting or extra costs.
Need assistance? Reach us at support@muzztech.co.in for guidance on message formatting and cost estimation.