Bluesky’s character limit is 300 characters per post, significantly shorter than Twitter/X’s current 280-character limit for free accounts. Your display name can be up to 64 characters, your bio 256 characters, and alt text for images supports up to 2,000 characters. Understanding these limits helps you craft effective posts on this growing decentralized social network.

This guide covers everything you need to know about Bluesky’s character restrictions, including how URLs are counted, profile limits, threading capabilities, and practical tips for staying within boundaries while maximizing engagement.

Bluesky Character Limits Overview

Bluesky operates on the AT Protocol, a decentralized social networking protocol that enforces these character limits at the technical level. Unlike centralized platforms that can arbitrarily change limits, Bluesky’s restrictions are built into the protocol itself, making them consistent across all clients and applications that connect to the network.

The 300-character post limit is intentionally concise, encouraging focused communication and reducing information overload. While this may seem restrictive compared to other platforms, it promotes clarity and makes the platform easier to scan quickly. Users who need more space can create threads, which are unlimited in length when broken into 300-character segments.

Post Limits (300 Characters)

Bluesky posts are limited to 300 characters, which includes all text, spaces, punctuation, and emoji. This is 20 characters more restrictive than Twitter/X’s 280-character limit for free users, making brevity essential.

Every character counts toward your limit:

• Letters and numbers - Each counts as 1 character
• Spaces and punctuation - Count as 1 character each
• Emoji - Most emoji count as 2 characters, but some complex emoji (with skin tone modifiers or multiple elements) may count as more
• Line breaks - Each newline counts as 1 character
• URLs - Always count as exactly 22 characters regardless of actual length

The 300-character limit applies to the visible text of your post. Media attachments like images, videos, or embedded content do not count toward this limit, though the alt text you add to images has its own separate 2,000-character limit.

When you approach the character limit while composing a post, Bluesky’s interface displays a countdown showing remaining characters. If you exceed 300 characters, the post button becomes disabled until you edit your text to fit within the constraint.

This shorter limit compared to Twitter/X means you need to be even more concise with your messaging. Consider front-loading important information, using abbreviations where appropriate, and breaking longer thoughts into threads rather than trying to cram everything into a single post.

How URLs Are Counted (22 Characters)

One of the most important things to understand about Bluesky’s character counting is how URLs are handled. Every URL in your post counts as exactly 22 characters, regardless of how long the actual link is.

This means:

• https://example.com counts as 22 characters
• https://www.verylongdomainname.com/with/many/path/segments?and=query&parameters=true also counts as 22 characters
• Multiple URLs each count as 22 characters

Bluesky automatically shortens and wraps URLs behind the scenes, which is why they have a fixed character cost. This is similar to how Twitter/X handles links, though Twitter uses a 23-character count for URLs.

Strategic implications for character counting:

If you need to include a link, you effectively have 278 characters remaining for your actual message content (300 minus 22 for the URL). However, if you’re sharing a very short URL like bit.ly/abc, you’re actually using more characters than the visible length suggests.

This fixed counting also means there’s no advantage to using URL shorteners on Bluesky. Whether you post the full URL or a shortened version, both count as 22 characters. Use the full, descriptive URL when possible, as it provides more context and appears more trustworthy to readers.

When planning posts with links, mentally subtract 22 from your available characters before drafting your message. This prevents the frustrating experience of writing a perfect 300-character post only to discover that adding your intended link pushes you over the limit.

Profile and Bio Limits

Your Bluesky profile has several character-limited fields that help define your online presence:

Display Name: 64 characters

Your display name is what appears prominently on your profile and next to your posts. With 64 characters, you have enough space for your full name, a title, or a short tagline. Many users include emoji, credentials, or pronouns in their display names.

Examples:

• “Jane Smith | Software Developer”
• “Dr. Robert Chen - Climate Scientist”
• “Maria Rodriguez 🌱 Sustainable Living”

Bio/Description: 256 characters

Your bio is your opportunity to tell visitors who you are and what you post about. With 256 characters, you need to be concise but can still convey meaningful information about your interests, expertise, or personality.

Effective bio strategies:

• Lead with your most important identity or role
• List 2-3 key topics you post about
• Include a call-to-action or link if relevant
• Use line breaks to improve readability
• Add relevant emoji for visual interest

Since URLs count as 22 characters in your bio just like in posts, including a link significantly reduces your available space for descriptive text.

Handle/Username: 253 characters (technical limit)

Your handle is your unique identifier on Bluesky, appearing as @username.bsky.social or as a custom domain if you’ve set one up. While the technical limit is 253 characters (based on domain name specifications), practical handles are much shorter for memorability and usability. Most users choose handles between 5-20 characters.

Handles can include letters, numbers, and hyphens, but cannot start or end with a hyphen. They’re case-insensitive, so @JohnDoe and @johndoe refer to the same account.

Alt Text Limits (2,000 Characters)

Bluesky’s alt text limit was increased from 1,000 to 2,000 characters in recent updates, making it one of the most generous platforms for image descriptions. Alt text provides text descriptions of images for users who are blind or visually impaired, rely on screen readers, or have images disabled.

With 2,000 characters, you can provide detailed, meaningful descriptions that make your content accessible:

What to include in effective alt text:

• What’s in the image (objects, people, settings)
• Relevant context or actions occurring
• Text that appears in the image (signs, captions, labels)
• Mood, colors, or artistic style when relevant
• Important details that contribute to understanding

Alt text best practices:

• Start with the most important information
• Be specific and objective
• Avoid starting with “Image of” or “Picture of” (screen readers announce it’s an image)
• Include text from screenshots or graphics
• Describe charts and graphs in detail, including trends and data points

The 2,000-character limit gives you ample space to be thorough. For complex images like infographics or data visualizations, you can provide comprehensive descriptions that ensure all users can access the information, regardless of whether they can see the image.

Adding alt text to your images isn’t just about accessibility—it’s good practice that benefits all users. People browsing with images disabled to save data, users on slow connections, and anyone whose image failed to load can still understand your content through alt text.

Threading on Bluesky

When 300 characters isn’t enough to express your complete thought, Bluesky supports threading—connecting multiple posts into a sequence. There’s no limit to how many posts you can include in a thread, and each post gets its own 300-character allowance.

How threading works:

Threads appear as connected posts that readers can expand to view the full conversation. The first post in a thread appears in feeds normally, and users can tap or click to see subsequent posts. Each reply in your thread maintains the 300-character limit but functions as part of a cohesive whole.

When to use threads:

• Complex topics that need more than 300 characters to explain
• Step-by-step guides or instructions
• Storytelling that unfolds across multiple beats
• Detailed analysis or commentary
• Lists that exceed character limits

Threading best practices:

Make each post in your thread capable of standing alone while contributing to the whole. The first post should hook readers and make them want to continue. Subsequent posts should build naturally on previous ones without requiring readers to scroll back constantly.

Number your posts if you’re sharing a long thread (1/5, 2/5, etc.) to help readers track their progress. Front-load your most important points in case readers don’t make it to the end. Consider breaking threads at natural pause points to improve readability.

Threading vs. single posts:

Not every thought needs to become a thread. If you find yourself regularly creating threads, consider whether your content might work better as a blog post or article that you link to from Bluesky. Threads are powerful for in-the-moment thoughts and organic discussions, but they’re not always the best format for evergreen content or highly structured information.

Bluesky vs Twitter/X Comparison

Understanding how Bluesky’s character limits compare to Twitter/X helps you adjust your posting strategy when cross-posting or migrating between platforms.

Key differences:

Bluesky’s 300-character post limit is slightly more restrictive than Twitter’s 280 characters for free accounts but vastly shorter than the 25,000-character limit available to Twitter Premium subscribers. This makes Bluesky more similar to Twitter’s original constraints, which many users feel encourages more focused, digestible content.

The bio limit on Bluesky is significantly more generous—256 characters versus Twitter’s 160—giving you more space to describe yourself and your interests. This extra space is meaningful for users who want to provide context about their expertise or list multiple areas of interest.

Bluesky’s 2,000-character alt text limit is double Twitter’s 1,000-character limit, demonstrating a stronger commitment to accessibility. This additional space allows for more detailed image descriptions without requiring users to compress or omit important information.

Cross-posting considerations:

If you post on both platforms, remember that content optimized for Bluesky’s 300-character limit will always fit on Twitter (280 characters), but Twitter posts may need editing to fit Bluesky’s shorter constraint. Many cross-posting tools automatically truncate posts that exceed limits, so it’s worth manually optimizing for each platform when possible.

Tips for Effective Bluesky Posts

Working within 300 characters requires strategy and precision. Here are proven approaches for maximizing impact while respecting Bluesky’s character limits:

1. Front-load important information

Put your main point or hook in the first sentence. Many users scroll quickly through feeds, and you need to capture attention immediately. Save supporting details, context, or qualifiers for later in the post or subsequent thread posts.

2. Eliminate unnecessary words

Review your draft and cut filler words like “really,” “very,” “actually,” and “just.” Replace longer phrases with concise alternatives: “in order to” becomes “to,” “a large number of” becomes “many,” “at this point in time” becomes “now.”

3. Use strategic abbreviations

Common abbreviations can save valuable characters: “w/” for “with,” “b/c” for “because,” “thru” for “through.” However, avoid overusing abbreviations to the point where your post becomes difficult to read. Your audience should understand your meaning without effort.

4. Embrace emoji for efficiency

A well-placed emoji can replace several words while adding visual interest. Instead of “I’m feeling excited about this,” try “Excited about this 🎉” Instead of “warning” or “important note,” a ⚠️ or 📌 emoji conveys the message instantly.

5. Use line breaks strategically

Breaking your post into short lines improves readability and helps important points stand out. Remember that each line break counts as a character, so use them purposefully rather than excessively.

6. Plan threads before writing

If you know your topic needs more than 300 characters, outline your thread structure before writing. Determine natural break points between posts and ensure each segment delivers value while maintaining narrative flow.

7. Edit ruthlessly

Your first draft rarely fits perfectly within 300 characters. Be willing to restructure sentences, swap words, and rethink phrasing. Often, tighter writing is stronger writing—the constraint forces clarity.

8. Count before adding URLs

Remember that URLs cost 22 characters regardless of visible length. Draft your message first, then add your link, rather than building around a URL and discovering you’ve exceeded your limit.

9. Use the character counter while drafting

Don’t wait until you’ve written a full paragraph to check your character count. Most text editors and Bluesky’s composer show live character counts, helping you stay within limits as you write rather than requiring major edits afterward.

10. Preview before posting

Bluesky’s interface shows how your post will appear before you publish. Use this preview to check formatting, ensure line breaks work as intended, and verify that your message reads clearly at a glance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Bluesky count spaces and punctuation toward the character limit?

Yes, spaces, punctuation marks, and all symbols count as characters. Every keystroke except for media attachments (images, videos) contributes to your 300-character total.

How many characters do emoji use on Bluesky?

Most standard emoji count as 2 characters, but complex emoji with modifiers like skin tones or combined elements may count as 3-4 characters. The exact count depends on how the emoji is encoded.

Can I edit posts after publishing if I exceed the character limit?

Bluesky’s composer prevents you from publishing posts that exceed 300 characters, so you won’t accidentally post over the limit. If you need to make changes after posting, you’ll need to delete and repost with corrections.

Do hashtags count toward Bluesky’s character limit?

Yes, hashtags count as characters just like any other text. Each letter, number, and the # symbol itself counts toward your 300-character limit.

What happens if I paste text longer than 300 characters?

Bluesky’s composer will accept the paste but display a character count showing you’re over the limit. The post button will be disabled until you edit the text to 300 characters or fewer.

Can I increase my character limit on Bluesky?

No, the 300-character limit is built into the AT Protocol and applies to all users equally. Unlike Twitter/X, Bluesky doesn’t offer paid tiers with expanded character limits. Use threads for longer content.

Key Takeaways

• Bluesky posts are limited to 300 characters, which is 20 characters fewer than Twitter/X’s standard limit
• URLs always count as exactly 22 characters regardless of actual length, so there’s no benefit to using URL shorteners
• Your bio can be up to 256 characters, display name 64 characters, and alt text for images 2,000 characters
• Every element counts toward your limit: spaces, punctuation, emoji, and line breaks all consume characters
• Threads are unlimited in length with each post getting its own 300-character allowance
• Front-load important information, eliminate unnecessary words, and edit ruthlessly to maximize impact within constraints

Conclusion

Understanding Bluesky’s character limits helps you craft effective posts that engage your audience while respecting platform constraints. The 300-character limit encourages concise communication, while generous alt text limits support accessibility. Whether you’re new to Bluesky or refining your strategy, counting characters before posting ensures your message fits perfectly.

Try our free letter counter → to check your character count before posting to Bluesky.