LinkedIn character limit and where "see more" cuts off your post
LinkedIn's character limits for posts, comments, headlines and your About section, and exactly where the "see more" cut-off falls on phone and desktop.
Two numbers decide how a LinkedIn post performs: how much you're allowed to write, and how much people see before they have to tap "…more". The first is generous. The second is tiny, and it's the one that matters.
LinkedIn character limits
| Where | Character limit |
|---|---|
| Post | 3,000 |
| Comment | 1,250 |
| Headline (under your name) | 220 |
| About section | 2,600 |
| Article headline | 150 |
Characters include spaces, emojis and line breaks. Emojis and some special characters can count as two.
Where "see more" cuts off your post
LinkedIn shows the first few lines of a post, then hides the rest behind "…more". Roughly:
- Desktop: about three lines, or around 200 characters.
- Phone: about three lines on a narrow screen, often closer to 120 to 150 characters.
It's based on lines, not characters. Blank lines count. So a post that opens with a short line, a blank line and another short line can hit the cut-off in fewer than 100 characters. Long paragraphs fit more text before the fold, but they're harder to read.
That first chunk is your hook. On most posts, it's all most people will ever read.
See exactly where your post gets cut off
Counting lines by hand is guesswork, especially across phone and desktop widths.
- Write your post in the LinkedIn post formatter.
- The live preview shows the post the way LinkedIn displays it, with the "…more" cut-off in the exact place. Switch between Phone and Desktop.
- The character counter tracks the 3,000 limit, turning amber and then red as you get close.
- Paste a link and the preview shows the link card LinkedIn will add under your post.
How to write the part above the fold
- Lead with the payoff or the tension, not the background. "I deleted 40% of our blog posts. Traffic went up." beats "Last quarter our team decided to review our content strategy."
- Keep the first line short, so it fits on one line on a phone.
- Use a line break to create a cliffhanger right before the cut-off.
- Skip "Excited to announce…" It's the most scrolled-past opening on LinkedIn.
Test your opening line with the headline analyzer, set to "LinkedIn hook". It checks length, clichés and hook strength. For formatting, see how to bold text on LinkedIn.
How long should a LinkedIn post be?
There's no single best length. Short posts (under about 600 characters) are quick to read and great for one sharp idea. Longer posts (1,200 to 2,000 characters) work well for stories and lessons, as long as the hook earns the "…more" tap and the text is broken into short lines. Use the full 3,000 only when every line earns its place.
Frequently asked questions
What is the character limit for a LinkedIn post?
3,000 characters, including spaces, line breaks and emojis.
How many characters show before "see more" on LinkedIn?
About three lines: roughly 200 characters on desktop and fewer on phones. Blank lines count as lines, so the exact number depends on your formatting.
Do line breaks count toward LinkedIn's character limit?
Yes. Each line break counts as a character, and blank lines also count toward the three visible lines before "…more".
What's the LinkedIn headline character limit?
220 characters for the headline under your name.