A subtitle line length checker tells you how many lines go past a character limit per line. Set the limit, paste the lines into the box, and the result counts the lines that are longer. The form starts at 42 characters, and its two sample lines of 24 and 64 characters give one line over the limit.
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Files up to 2 GB · export to TXT, MD, DOCX, PDF, SRT and VTT · speaker labels and timestamps · about 30 languages
Key facts
- The form has a Limit per line field and a text box where each line break starts a new line to check.
- The count includes spaces and punctuation, because every character counts toward the limit, not only letters.
- The result is a number only, such as 1 line(s) longer than 42 characters, and it does not mark which line is the long one.
- The table beside the form notes a common limit of 42 characters per line, two lines per subtitle and 84 characters for a full two-line subtitle.
Calculator
| Value | What it means |
|---|---|
| 42 | Common limit for one subtitle line in English |
| 2 | Common number of lines per subtitle |
| 84 | Characters in a full two-line subtitle at 42 per line |
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Where it works | Telegram bot @potok_now_bot; large files go through the bot's mini app |
| File size | Up to 2 GB |
| Export | TXT, MD, DOCX, PDF, SRT, VTT |
| Speakers and time | Speaker labels and timestamps can be switched on |
| Languages | About 30 languages with good published results; a few more with warnings |
| Translation | The transcript is not translated into another language |
| Dictation | A separate Potok desktop app lets you dictate text into any program; it recognises Russian speech |
More
See the full list of languages, the tools and the glossary.
Frequently asked questions
How many characters fit on a subtitle line?
A common convention for English subtitles is 42 characters per line, with two lines per subtitle. It is a general norm, not a W3C requirement, and WebVTT itself sets no line length. The limit is a setting, so change it in the form to match your own rules.
Does the checker count spaces?
Yes. Spaces and punctuation count as characters, as they take room on the screen. Every character in the line counts, including leading and trailing spaces.
Which sample line is too long?
The second one. It has 64 characters, while the limit is 42. The first line has 24 characters and fits.
Can I check a whole SRT file?
Paste only the subtitle text. Cue numbers and time lines are short (a time line such as 00:00:01,000 --> 00:00:03,500 is 29 characters), but a limit below 29 would flag them.
How do I fix a long line?
Split the sentence at a natural pause, such as a comma or a conjunction, and move the rest to the second line or to the next cue.
Sources
Each source was opened by hand on the date shown. Pages change, so open the source if a detail matters to you.
- Subtitle (Wikipedia), Wikipedia · checked
- Closed captioning (Wikipedia), Wikipedia · checked
- SubRip and the .srt format (Wikipedia), Wikipedia · checked
Try it on your own recording
Send your voice message, audio or video to @potok_now_bot on Telegram and the text comes back in the chat.
Open @potok_now_bot in Telegram