How long should a Facebook caption be?
For Facebook business posts, keep simple captions around 40-80 characters and most practical business updates under 250 characters. Scheduled Facebook page captions can support much longer text in some tools, but short captions usually work better because people scan Facebook quickly.
Use longer captions only when the post needs context, such as an event explanation, customer story, service update, or detailed offer.
Why This Matters
Facebook allows far more text than most business posts need. Buffer lists scheduled Facebook page and group post captions at 5,000 characters, while other native Facebook references have historically allowed much longer status text. That does not mean a local business should use the full limit.
Most people seeing a business page post are not sitting down to read a mini article. They need to understand the offer, update, question, or proof quickly. The image, link preview, review screenshot, or local context often does more work than the caption itself.
Real-World Example
A roofing company posting after a storm might write: "Storm damage inspections are open this week. Call before Friday if you need us to check your roof." That is short, specific, and action-oriented. A longer caption could work if the post explains what homeowners should look for before calling.
What Most People Get Wrong
Most people try to make Facebook captions persuasive by adding more words. For local businesses, clarity usually beats length: what happened, who it is for, and what to do next.