diff --git a/app/src/main/kotlin/com/simplemobiletools/smsmessenger/activities/ThreadActivity.kt b/app/src/main/kotlin/com/simplemobiletools/smsmessenger/activities/ThreadActivity.kt
index 3b58a004..4039c405 100644
--- a/app/src/main/kotlin/com/simplemobiletools/smsmessenger/activities/ThreadActivity.kt
+++ b/app/src/main/kotlin/com/simplemobiletools/smsmessenger/activities/ThreadActivity.kt
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ import android.os.Bundle
 import android.os.Handler
 import android.provider.ContactsContract
 import android.provider.Telephony
+import android.telephony.SmsMessage
 import android.telephony.SubscriptionManager
 import android.text.TextUtils
 import android.util.TypedValue
@@ -363,7 +364,9 @@ class ThreadActivity : SimpleActivity() {
         thread_send_message.isClickable = false
         thread_type_message.onTextChangeListener {
             checkSendMessageAvailability()
-            thread_character_counter.text = it.length.toString()
+            val messageString = if (config.useSimpleCharacters) it.normalizeString() else it
+            val messageLength = SmsMessage.calculateLength(messageString, false)
+            thread_character_counter.text = "${messageLength[2]}/${messageLength[0]}"
         }
 
         confirm_manage_contacts.setOnClickListener {