A thread is a chain of posts on X, each one a reply to the last. Done well, it's the best format X has for teaching something, telling a story or making an argument, and good threads keep getting bookmarked and shared for days. Done badly, it's a wall of numbered posts nobody gets past the second of.
This guide covers how to plan one, write a first post that makes people tap, structure the rest, where to put links, and how to post or schedule it. There's a template at the end to copy. It was written on 25 October 2026.
When a thread is the right format
Use a thread when you have:
- A process: "How we cut our onboarding from 9 steps to 3"
- A list of specific, useful things: tools, mistakes, lessons
- A story with a beginning, middle and end
- An argument that needs a few steps to make
Don't use a thread for one idea that fits in one post. Padding a single point across six posts is the fastest way to lose readers. And if you pay for X Premium, a single long post is an option too, but threads are easier to skim on a phone and each post can be reposted on its own.
How long should a thread be?
Most good threads are 5 to 12 posts. Long enough to say something real, short enough to finish on a phone. Ask yourself whether each post earns its place. If you can cut one without losing anything, cut it.
| Thread type | Typical length |
|---|---|
| Quick list of tips | 5 to 7 posts |
| How-to or process | 7 to 10 posts |
| Story or case study | 8 to 12 posts |
| Deep dive | 12 to 20 posts (only if every post is strong) |
Step 1: write the first post last
The first post decides whether anyone reads the rest, so write it once you know what the thread actually says. A good first post:
- Makes a specific promise. "Here's what we removed, and what happened to churn" beats "A thread on onboarding".
- Includes a concrete detail: a number, a result, a time frame.
- Works on its own. It'll be seen by many people who never tap through.
- Ends with a pull: a colon, or a line that makes the next post feel necessary.
Some first posts that follow the pattern:
We cut our onboarding from 9 steps to 3. First-month churn fell from 22% to 9%. Here's exactly what we removed:
I've reviewed 200 pitch decks this year. The ones that got meetings all did the same 6 things:
Our biggest customer left in March. It was the best thing that happened to us. What we learned:
Avoid "A thread 🧵👇" on its own, and clickbait you can't pay off.
Step 2: give one idea per post
Each post should make one point, in full sentences, and make sense if someone screenshots it alone. That's what gets individual posts reposted and bookmarked.
- Lead each post with the point, then a sentence of detail or an example.
- Keep posts under 280 characters. Links count as 23 characters on X however long they are, and most emoji as 2. Check yours with our character counter, which also splits long text into a thread for you.
- Put the best material early. Readers drop off as they go, so don't save your strongest point for post 9.
- Use images where they help: a screenshot, a chart, a before and after. Up to four images per post.
Step 3: end with a summary and one ask
The last post should do two jobs: wrap up the thread in one or two lines, and ask for one thing. Pick one, not three:
- Follow you for more on this topic
- Read the full guide, watch the video or try the product (with the link)
- Repost the first post if it was useful
Where to put links
Links in the first post tend to pull people off X before they've read the thread. Put your main link in the last post, or in a reply right after it. If the whole thread comes from a blog post or video, say so at the end ("The full guide, with screenshots:") and link there.
Numbering: "1/" or not?
Numbering ("1/8") tells readers how long the thread is, which can help on long threads, but it locks you in. If you edit the thread or cut a post, the numbers break. Most writers now skip numbers and let the reply chain show it's a thread. If you post the same thread to Bluesky or Mastodon, leave numbers out; they look out of place there.
A thread template to copy
Fill in the brackets:
- Hook: [Specific result or promise, with a number]. Here's [what/how]:
- Context: [Why this matters, or the situation before, in one or two sentences.]
- Point 1: [First lesson or step.] [One sentence of detail or example.]
- Point 2: [Second lesson or step.] [Detail.]
- Point 3: [Third lesson or step.] [Detail, or a screenshot.]
- Point 4: [Fourth lesson or step.] [Detail.]
- Point 5: [Fifth lesson or step.] [Detail.]
- Surprise: [The thing that didn't work, or what surprised you.]
- Summary and ask: [The whole thread in one line.] [One ask, with the link if you have one.]
How to post a thread on X
On x.com or in the app, write your first post, then click the + button below it to add the next post. Keep adding until the thread is done, then click Post all.
X's own scheduler can't schedule threads, though. To schedule one, use a tool.
How to schedule a thread with Postbase
- Connect X on the Channels page. You approve access on X's own screen and don't need an X developer account.
- Write the first post in the composer.
- Click Add comment / post for each following post, up to 25. Drag posts to reorder them.
- Add images or a video if you like. In Postbase, media goes on the first post of the thread, where it does the most work.
- Pick Bluesky and Mastodon too if you want the thread there; the composer checks each network's limit (300 on Bluesky, 500 on Mastodon) as you type, and you can adjust the wording per network.
- Pick a time and schedule. At that time Postbase publishes the first post, then each following one as a reply to the one before, in order.
Available channels
Customize per channel
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You can also have Claude or another AI tool draft and schedule a thread through the Postbase MCP server for X:
Turn this blog post into an X thread of 7 posts. Put the link in the last post only. Schedule it for Thursday at 1pm.
After you post
- Stay for the first hour and reply to comments. Early replies help the thread travel.
- Pin it to your profile if it's one of your best.
- Reuse it. A strong thread can go out again in two or three months, when most of your followers won't have seen it. It can also become a LinkedIn post or a short video.
Frequently asked questions
How do you write a thread on X?
Write your first post, then click the + button below it to add the next one, and repeat until the thread is done. Click Post all to publish the whole thread at once.
How many posts should a Twitter thread have?
Most good threads have 5 to 12 posts. Long enough to say something specific, short enough to finish on a phone. Cut any post that doesn't add something.
Can you schedule a thread on X?
Not with X's own scheduler, which only schedules single posts. Scheduling tools like Postbase can schedule whole threads, up to 25 posts, and publish each part as a reply to the one before.
Where should the link go in an X thread?
In the last post, or in a reply right after the thread. A link in the first post can pull readers away before they've read the rest.
Should I number the posts in my thread?
It's optional. Numbers show how long the thread is, but they break if you edit it, and look out of place if you also post the thread to Bluesky or Mastodon. Most writers now skip them.
Are threads still worth it on X in 2026?
Yes, for teaching, stories and arguments. Good threads get bookmarked and reposted, and each post in them can travel on its own. For a single idea, one strong post is better.
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