diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 51cdb2f..1022e72 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -109,32 +109,37 @@ Fires when counter is under min limit.
 ## Options
 
 ```javascript
-type                     : "character",            // "character" or "word"
-min                      : 0,                      // minimum number of characters/words
-max                      : 200,                    // maximum number of characters/words, -1 for unlimited, 'auto' to use maxlength attribute
-countContainerElement    : "div",                  // HTML element to wrap the text count in
-countContainerClass      : "text-count-wrapper",   // class applied to the countContainerElement
-textCountClass           : "text-count",           // class applied to the counter length
-inputErrorClass          : "error",                // error class appended to the input element if error occurs
-counterErrorClass        : "error",                // error class appended to the countContainerElement if error occurs
-counterText              : "Total Count: %d",      // counter text, %d replaced with count value
-errorTextElement         : "div",                  // error text element
-minimumErrorText         : "Minimum not met",      // error message for minimum not met,
-maximumErrorText         : "Maximum exceeded",     // error message for maximum range exceeded,
-displayErrorText         : true,                   // display error text messages for minimum/maximum values
-stopInputAtMaximum       : true,                   // stop further text input if maximum reached
-countSpaces              : false,                  // count spaces as character (only for "character" type)
-countDown                : false,                  // if the counter should deduct from maximum characters/words rather than counting up
-countDownText            : "Remaining: %d",        // count down text, %d replaced with remaining value
-countExtendedCharacters  : false,                  // count extended UTF-8 characters as 2 bytes (such as Chinese characters)
-twoCharCarriageReturn    : false,                  // count carriage returns/newlines as 2 characters
+type                        : "character",                     // "character" or "word"
+min                         : 0,                               // minimum number of characters/words
+max                         : 200,                             // maximum number of characters/words, -1 for unlimited, 'auto' to use maxlength attribute, 'autocustom' to use a custom attribute for the length (must set "autoCustomAttr")
+autoCustomAttr              : "counterlimit",                  // custom attribute name with the counter limit if the max is 'autocustom'
+countContainerElement       : "div",                           // HTML element to wrap the text count in
+countContainerClass         : "text-count-wrapper",            // class applied to the countContainerElement
+textCountMessageClass       : "text-count-message",            // class applied to the counter message
+textCountClass              : "text-count",                    // class applied to the counter length (the count number)
+inputErrorClass             : "error",                         // error class appended to the input element if error occurs
+counterErrorClass           : "error",                         // error class appended to the countContainerElement if error occurs
+counterText                 : "Total Count: %d",               // counter text
+errorTextElement            : "div",                           // error text element
+minimumErrorText            : "Minimum not met",               // error message for minimum not met,
+maximumErrorText            : "Maximum exceeded",              // error message for maximum range exceeded,
+displayErrorText            : true,                            // display error text messages for minimum/maximum values
+stopInputAtMaximum          : true,                            // stop further text input if maximum reached
+countSpaces                 : false,                           // count spaces as character (only for "character" type)
+countDown                   : false,                           // if the counter should deduct from maximum characters/words rather than counting up
+countDownText               : "Remaining: %d",                 // count down text
+countExtendedCharacters     : false,                           // count extended UTF-8 characters as 2 bytes (such as Chinese characters)
+twoCharCarriageReturn       : false,                           // count carriage returns/newlines as 2 characters
+countOverflow               : false,                           // display text overflow element
+countOverflowText           : "Maximum %type exceeded by %d",  // count overflow text
+countOverflowContainerClass : "text-count-overflow-wrapper",   // class applied to the count overflow wrapper
 
 // Callback API
-maxunder                 : function(el){},         // Callback: function(element) - Fires when counter is under max limit
-minunder                 : function(el){},         // Callback: function(element) - Fires when counter is under min limit
-maxcount                 : function(el){},         // Callback: function(element) - Fires when the counter hits the maximum word/character count
-mincount                 : function(el){},         // Callback: function(element) - Fires when the counter hits the minimum word/character count
-init                     : function(el){}          // Callback: function(element) - Fires after the counter is initially setup
+maxunder                    : function(el){},                  // Callback: function(element) - Fires when counter is under max limit
+minunder                    : function(el){},                  // Callback: function(element) - Fires when counter is under min limit
+maxcount                    : function(el){},                  // Callback: function(element) - Fires when the counter hits the maximum word/character count
+mincount                    : function(el){},                  // Callback: function(element) - Fires when the counter hits the minimum word/character count
+init                        : function(el){}                   // Callback: function(element) - Fires after the counter is initially setup
 ```
 
 ## Development
@@ -159,4 +164,4 @@ init                     : function(el){}          // Callback: function(element
 - [juliovedovatto](https://github.com/juliovedovatto) / [alvaro-canepa](https://github.com/alvaro-canepa) - multiple classes support for counter container
 - [dtipson](https://github.com/dtipson) - multiple classes error fix
 - [jmichalicek](https://github.com/jmichalicek) - count carriage returns/newlines as 2 characters
-- [diptopol](https://github.com/diptopol) - `stopInputAtMaximum` with `twoCharCarriageReturn` count fix, trimmed newline calculation fix, maximum text reached condition fix, text count overflow notification
\ No newline at end of file
+- [diptopol](https://github.com/diptopol) - `stopInputAtMaximum` with `twoCharCarriageReturn` count fix, trimmed newline calculation fix, maximum text reached condition fix, text count overflow notification
diff --git a/textcounter.js b/textcounter.js
index 4078a3d..7ac76eb 100644
--- a/textcounter.js
+++ b/textcounter.js
@@ -68,6 +68,16 @@
                     base.$container.text('error: [maxlength] attribute not set');
                 }
             }
+            else if (base.options.max == 'autocustom') {
+                var max = base.$el.attr(base.options.autoCustomAttr);
+
+                if (typeof max !== 'undefined' && max !== false) {
+                    base.options.max = max;
+                }
+                else {
+                    base.$container.text('error: [' + base.options.autoCustomAttr  + '] attribute not set');
+                }
+            }
 
             // if this is a countdown counter deduct from the max characters/words
             textTotalCount = base.options.countDown ? base.options.max - textCount : textCount;
@@ -294,7 +304,8 @@
     $.textcounter.defaultOptions = {
         'type'                        : "character",                     // "character" or "word"
         'min'                         : 0,                               // minimum number of characters/words
-        'max'                         : 200,                             // maximum number of characters/words, -1 for unlimited, 'auto' to use maxlength attribute
+        'max'                         : 200,                             // maximum number of characters/words, -1 for unlimited, 'auto' to use maxlength attribute, 'autocustom' to use a custom attribute for the length (must set "autoCustomAttr")
+        'autoCustomAttr'              : "counterlimit",                  // custom attribute name with the counter limit if the max is 'autocustom'
         'countContainerElement'       : "div",                           // HTML element to wrap the text count in
         'countContainerClass'         : "text-count-wrapper",            // class applied to the countContainerElement
         'textCountMessageClass'       : "text-count-message",            // class applied to the counter message
diff --git a/textcounter.min.js b/textcounter.min.js
index ad6f19f..be6bb72 100644
--- a/textcounter.min.js
+++ b/textcounter.min.js
@@ -5,4 +5,4 @@
 * Copyright 2014 ractoon
 * Released under the MIT license
 */
-!function(t){t.textcounter=function(n,o){var e=this;e.$el=t(n),e.el=n,e.$el.data("textcounter",e),e.init=function(){e.options=t.extend({},t.textcounter.defaultOptions,o);var n=e.options.countDown?e.options.countDownText:e.options.counterText,r=e.options.countDown?e.options.max:0,s=t("<div/>").addClass(e.options.textCountMessageClass).html(n.replace("%d",'<span class="'+e.options.textCountClass+'">'+r+"</span>")),i=t("<div/>").addClass(e.options.countOverflowContainerClass);e.hideMessage(i),e.$container=t("<"+e.options.countContainerElement+"/>").addClass(e.options.countContainerClass).append(s).append(i),e.$text_counter=e.$container.find("span"),e.$el.after(e.$container),e.$el.bind("keyup.textcounter click.textcounter blur.textcounter focus.textcounter change.textcounter paste.textcounter",e.checkLimits).trigger("click.textcounter"),e.options.init(e.el)},e.checkLimits=function(n){var o=e.$el,r=(e.$container,o.val()),s=0,i=0,a=void 0!==n.originalEvent;if(t.isEmptyObject(r)||(s=e.textCount(r)),"auto"==e.options.max){var u=e.$el.attr("maxlength");void 0!==u&&!1!==u?e.options.max=u:e.$container.text("error: [maxlength] attribute not set")}if(i=e.options.countDown?e.options.max-s:s,e.setCount(i),e.options.min>0&&a&&(s<e.options.min?(e.setErrors("min"),e.options.minunder(e.el)):s>=e.options.min&&(e.options.mincount(e.el),e.clearErrors("min"))),-1!==e.options.max)if(s===e.options.max&&0!==e.options.max)e.options.maxcount(e.el),e.clearErrors("max");else if(s>e.options.max&&0!==e.options.max)if(e.options.stopInputAtMaximum){var c="";if("word"==e.options.type)for(var l=r.split(/[^\S\n]/g),p=0;p<l.length&&!(p>=e.options.max);)void 0!==l[p]&&(c+=l[p]+" ",p++);else{var x=e.options.twoCharCarriageReturn?e.options.max-e.twoCharCarriageReturnCount(r):e.options.max;if(e.options.countSpaces)c=r.substring(0,x);else for(var m=r.split(""),C=m.length,d=0,p=0;d<x&&p<C;)" "!==m[p]&&d++,c+=m[p++]}o.val(c.trim()),s=e.textCount(o.val()),i=e.options.countDown?e.options.max-s:s,e.setCount(i)}else e.setErrors("max");else e.options.maxunder(e.el),e.clearErrors("max")},e.textCount=function(t){return"word"==e.options.type?e.wordCount(t):e.characterCount(t)},e.wordCount=function(t){return t.trim().replace(/\s+/gi," ").split(" ").length},e.characterCount=function(t){var n=0,o=0;if(e.options.twoCharCarriageReturn&&(o=e.twoCharCarriageReturnCount(t)),n=e.options.countSpaces?t.replace(/[^\S\n|\r|\r\n]/g," ").length:t.replace(/\s/g,"").length,e.options.countExtendedCharacters){var r=t.match(/[^\x00-\xff]/gi);n=null==r?t.length:t.length+r.length}return e.options.twoCharCarriageReturn&&(n+=o),n},e.twoCharCarriageReturnCount=function(t){var n=t.match(/(\r\n|\n|\r)/g),o=0;return null!==n&&(o=n.length),o},e.setCount=function(t){e.$text_counter.text(t)},e.setErrors=function(t){var n=e.$el,o=e.$container,r="";switch(n.addClass(e.options.inputErrorClass),o.addClass(e.options.counterErrorClass),t){case"min":r=e.options.minimumErrorText;break;case"max":r=e.options.maximumErrorText,e.options.countOverflow&&e.setOverflowMessage()}e.options.displayErrorText&&(o.children(".error-text-"+t).length||o.append("<"+e.options.errorTextElement+' class="error-text error-text-'+t+'">'+r+"</"+e.options.errorTextElement+">"))},e.setOverflowMessage=function(){e.hideMessage(e.$container.find("."+e.options.textCountMessageClass)),e.removeOverflowMessage();var t=e.options.countOverflowText.replace("%d",e.textCount(e.$el.val())-e.options.max).replace("%type",e.options.type+"s"),n=e.$container.find("."+e.options.countOverflowContainerClass).append(t);e.showMessage(n)},e.removeOverflowMessage=function(){e.$container.find("."+e.options.countOverflowContainerClass).empty()},e.showMessage=function(t){t.css("display","inline")},e.hideMessage=function(t){t.css("display","none")},e.clearErrors=function(t){var n=e.$el,o=e.$container;o.children(".error-text-"+t).remove(),0==o.children(".error-text").length&&(e.removeOverflowMessage(),e.showMessage(e.$container.find("."+e.options.textCountMessageClass)),n.removeClass(e.options.inputErrorClass),o.removeClass(e.options.counterErrorClass))},e.init()},t.textcounter.defaultOptions={type:"character",min:0,max:200,countContainerElement:"div",countContainerClass:"text-count-wrapper",textCountMessageClass:"text-count-message",textCountClass:"text-count",inputErrorClass:"error",counterErrorClass:"error",counterText:"Total Count: %d",errorTextElement:"div",minimumErrorText:"Minimum not met",maximumErrorText:"Maximum exceeded",displayErrorText:!0,stopInputAtMaximum:!0,countSpaces:!1,countDown:!1,countDownText:"Remaining: %d",countExtendedCharacters:!1,twoCharCarriageReturn:!1,countOverflow:!1,countOverflowText:"Maximum %type exceeded by %d",countOverflowContainerClass:"text-count-overflow-wrapper",maxunder:function(t){},minunder:function(t){},maxcount:function(t){},mincount:function(t){},init:function(t){}},t.fn.textcounter=function(n){return this.each(function(){new t.textcounter(this,n)})}}(jQuery);
\ No newline at end of file
+!!function(t){t.textcounter=function(o,n){var e=this;e.$el=t(o),e.el=o,e.$el.data("textcounter",e),e.init=function(){e.options=t.extend({},t.textcounter.defaultOptions,n);var o=e.options.countDown?e.options.countDownText:e.options.counterText,r=e.options.countDown?e.options.max:0,s=t("<div/>").addClass(e.options.textCountMessageClass).html(o.replace("%d",'<span class="'+e.options.textCountClass+'">'+r+"</span>")),i=t("<div/>").addClass(e.options.countOverflowContainerClass);e.hideMessage(i),e.$container=t("<"+e.options.countContainerElement+"/>").addClass(e.options.countContainerClass).append(s).append(i),e.$text_counter=e.$container.find("span"),e.$el.after(e.$container),e.$el.bind("keyup.textcounter click.textcounter blur.textcounter focus.textcounter change.textcounter paste.textcounter",e.checkLimits).trigger("click.textcounter"),e.options.init(e.el)},e.checkLimits=function(o){var n=e.$el,r=(e.$container,n.val()),s=0,i=0,a=void 0!==o.originalEvent;if(t.isEmptyObject(r)||(s=e.textCount(r)),"auto"==e.options.max)void 0!==(u=e.$el.attr("maxlength"))&&!1!==u?e.options.max=u:e.$container.text("error: [maxlength] attribute not set");else if("autocustom"==e.options.max){var u=e.$el.attr(e.options.autoCustomAttr);void 0!==u&&!1!==u?e.options.max=u:e.$container.text("error: ["+e.options.autoCustomAttr+"] attribute not set")}if(i=e.options.countDown?e.options.max-s:s,e.setCount(i),e.options.min>0&&a&&(s<e.options.min?(e.setErrors("min"),e.options.minunder(e.el)):s>=e.options.min&&(e.options.mincount(e.el),e.clearErrors("min"))),-1!==e.options.max)if(s===e.options.max&&0!==e.options.max)e.options.maxcount(e.el),e.clearErrors("max");else if(s>e.options.max&&0!==e.options.max)if(e.options.stopInputAtMaximum){var c="";if("word"==e.options.type)for(var l=r.split(/[^\S\n]/g),p=0;p<l.length&&!(p>=e.options.max);)void 0!==l[p]&&(c+=l[p]+" ",p++);else{var x=e.options.twoCharCarriageReturn?e.options.max-e.twoCharCarriageReturnCount(r):e.options.max;if(e.options.countSpaces)c=r.substring(0,x);else for(var m=r.split(""),C=m.length,d=0,p=0;d<x&&p<C;)" "!==m[p]&&d++,c+=m[p++]}n.val(c.trim()),s=e.textCount(n.val()),i=e.options.countDown?e.options.max-s:s,e.setCount(i)}else e.setErrors("max");else e.options.maxunder(e.el),e.clearErrors("max")},e.textCount=function(t){return"word"==e.options.type?e.wordCount(t):e.characterCount(t)},e.wordCount=function(t){return t.trim().replace(/\s+/gi," ").split(" ").length},e.characterCount=function(t){var o=0,n=0;if(e.options.twoCharCarriageReturn&&(n=e.twoCharCarriageReturnCount(t)),o=e.options.countSpaces?t.replace(/[^\S\n|\r|\r\n]/g," ").length:t.replace(/\s/g,"").length,e.options.countExtendedCharacters){var r=t.match(/[^\x00-\xff]/gi);o=null==r?t.length:t.length+r.length}return e.options.twoCharCarriageReturn&&(o+=n),o},e.twoCharCarriageReturnCount=function(t){var o=t.match(/(\r\n|\n|\r)/g),n=0;return null!==o&&(n=o.length),n},e.setCount=function(t){e.$text_counter.text(t)},e.setErrors=function(t){var o=e.$el,n=e.$container,r="";switch(o.addClass(e.options.inputErrorClass),n.addClass(e.options.counterErrorClass),t){case"min":r=e.options.minimumErrorText;break;case"max":r=e.options.maximumErrorText,e.options.countOverflow&&e.setOverflowMessage()}e.options.displayErrorText&&(n.children(".error-text-"+t).length||n.append("<"+e.options.errorTextElement+' class="error-text error-text-'+t+'">'+r+"</"+e.options.errorTextElement+">"))},e.setOverflowMessage=function(){e.hideMessage(e.$container.find("."+e.options.textCountMessageClass)),e.removeOverflowMessage();var t=e.options.countOverflowText.replace("%d",e.textCount(e.$el.val())-e.options.max).replace("%type",e.options.type+"s"),o=e.$container.find("."+e.options.countOverflowContainerClass).append(t);e.showMessage(o)},e.removeOverflowMessage=function(){e.$container.find("."+e.options.countOverflowContainerClass).empty()},e.showMessage=function(t){t.css("display","inline")},e.hideMessage=function(t){t.css("display","none")},e.clearErrors=function(t){var o=e.$el,n=e.$container;n.children(".error-text-"+t).remove(),0==n.children(".error-text").length&&(e.removeOverflowMessage(),e.showMessage(e.$container.find("."+e.options.textCountMessageClass)),o.removeClass(e.options.inputErrorClass),n.removeClass(e.options.counterErrorClass))},e.init()},t.textcounter.defaultOptions={type:"character",min:0,max:200,autoCustomAttr:"counterlimit",countContainerElement:"div",countContainerClass:"text-count-wrapper",textCountMessageClass:"text-count-message",textCountClass:"text-count",inputErrorClass:"error",counterErrorClass:"error",counterText:"Total Count: %d",errorTextElement:"div",minimumErrorText:"Minimum not met",maximumErrorText:"Maximum exceeded",displayErrorText:!0,stopInputAtMaximum:!0,countSpaces:!1,countDown:!1,countDownText:"Remaining: %d",countExtendedCharacters:!1,twoCharCarriageReturn:!1,countOverflow:!1,countOverflowText:"Maximum %type exceeded by %d",countOverflowContainerClass:"text-count-overflow-wrapper",maxunder:function(t){},minunder:function(t){},maxcount:function(t){},mincount:function(t){},init:function(t){}},t.fn.textcounter=function(o){return this.each(function(){new t.textcounter(this,o)})}}(jQuery);