LinkedIn has different character limits for every section of your profile and every type of post. Most people know the basics — but the “see more” cut-off point, character limits for articles, and the DM limit all catch people off guard.
LinkedIn Character Limits: Complete Reference Table
| Content Type | Character Limit | Visible Before Cut-off |
|---|---|---|
| Feed post (standard) | 3,000 characters | First 210 characters |
| LinkedIn Article (body) | 110,000 characters | No cut-off (full article format) |
| Article headline | 220 characters | All visible |
| Profile headline | 220 characters | ~120 on desktop, ~60 on mobile |
| About / Summary | 2,600 characters | First 300 characters |
| Job description | 2,000 characters | Varies |
| Comment | 1,250 characters | First 210 characters |
| Connection request note | 300 characters | All visible |
| InMail subject | 200 characters | All visible |
| InMail body | 1,900 characters | All visible |
| Direct message | 1,800 characters | All visible |
The “See More” Cut-off: 210 Characters
The most important number for LinkedIn content creators is 210 characters. This is the approximate point at which LinkedIn truncates a feed post with a “see more” link on desktop. On mobile, the cut-off is slightly earlier at around 140–170 characters.
Your first 210 characters function as a headline for the rest of your post. If they are not compelling, most of your audience will never read further. The LinkedIn algorithm also rewards posts with high click-through on “see more” because it signals engagement.
How Long Should a LinkedIn Post Be?
LinkedIn’s algorithm tends to favour longer posts (1,500–2,000 characters) over very short ones. Research on high-performing LinkedIn content consistently shows:
- Posts under 500 characters perform average
- Posts between 1,200–2,000 characters perform above average
- Posts at the 3,000 character maximum are used by top creators but require strong writing throughout
The reason longer posts perform better is that they generate more time-on-post (a strong engagement signal) and more comments, as readers respond to specific points they encountered deep in the post.
LinkedIn Post Formatting Tips
LinkedIn does not support standard Markdown formatting, but you can structure posts visually:
- Use line breaks liberally — single-sentence lines are very readable on LinkedIn
- Use bullet points with symbols: •, →, ✓
- Bold text is not natively supported in posts — use bold Unicode characters if needed
- Emoji add visual rhythm but use sparingly — 1–3 per post maximum for professional tone
- End with a clear call to action: a question to answer, a link to click, or an invitation to share
LinkedIn Articles vs Posts: Which to Use?
| Feature | LinkedIn Post | LinkedIn Article |
|---|---|---|
| Character limit | 3,000 characters | 110,000 characters |
| SEO indexed by Google | No | Yes |
| Shown in feed | Yes (prominent) | Yes (smaller card) |
| Formatting options | Limited | Full (H1, H2, images, links) |
| Best for | Daily presence, quick insights | Thought leadership, detailed guides |