EBCDIC can code up to how many different characters?

EBCDIC can code up to 256 different characters.

Sixteen characters would need only four bits, far fewer than EBCDIC uses.

Thirty-two characters would need only five bits.

Sixty-four characters would need only six bits.

Being an eight-bit code, EBCDIC has two to the power eight combinations.

That eight-bit width is why it reaches 256 characters.