Short answer
Yes. In the Hanafi school, and in all four schools, three talaqs given in one sitting count as three, and the marriage ends with no chance to take her back. Giving them together is a sinful, innovated form (talaq al-bid'ah). Some later scholars hold that they count as one, but that is not the position of the four schools.
Three talaqs in one sentence or one sitting take effect as three. The wife becomes haram for him (mughallazah) and cannot return to him unless she marries another man in a genuine marriage that later ends, without any prior arrangement. The husband is sinful for divorcing this way.
The four schools agree on this.
Explanation
Talaq al-bid'ah (often written talaq e biddat) means divorcing against the sunnah: three at once, or during her period, or in a clean period after intimacy. It is sinful because it goes against the step by step way Allah laid out, which leaves room to think again. But being sinful does not stop it from counting, just as a man who swears falsely is still bound by his oath.
The four schools, following the decision of Umar ibn al-Khattab with the Companions, hold that three talaqs said together count as three. After a third talaq, Allah says, she is not lawful to him "until she marries a husband other than him" (2:230). The Prophet ﷺ made clear that this second marriage must be a real one, consummated, and not a plan to make her lawful again. So-called "halala" arranged for that purpose is a serious sin and is cursed in the hadith.
Some scholars, including Ibn Taymiyyah and many contemporary scholars following him, hold that three in one sitting count as one, citing a report in Sahih Muslim from Ibn Abbas about the early practice. The Hanafi scholars answer that Umar's ruling was agreed upon by the Companions, and they do not give fatwa on this view. A few countries' family laws follow it. A couple should not shop for a ruling to escape a divorce that has happened.
If you have said three talaqs, or something you are unsure about, stop living as husband and wife and speak to a mufti about exactly what was said. See the divorce process and the iddah calculator.
Ask a mufti about your own case. This answer explains the general ruling. When the details of your situation matter, as they do here, ask a qualified mufti and give them the full facts. Where to ask a scholar.
The evidence
Quran, Surah Al-Baqara 2:230
فَإِن طَلَّقَهَا فَلَا تَحِلُّ لَهُۥ مِنۢ بَعْدُ حَتَّىٰ تَنكِحَ زَوْجًا غَيْرَهُۥ ۗ فَإِن طَلَّقَهَا فَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْهِمَآ أَن يَتَرَاجَعَآ إِن ظَنَّآ أَن يُقِيمَا حُدُودَ ٱللَّهِ ۗ وَتِلْكَ حُدُودُ ٱللَّهِ يُبَيِّنُهَا لِقَوْمٍۢ يَعْلَمُونَ ﴿٢٣٠﴾
And if he has divorced her [for the third time], then she is not lawful to him afterward until [after] she marries a husband other than him. And if the latter husband divorces her [or dies], there is no blame upon the woman and her former husband for returning to each other if they think that they can keep [within] the limits of Allah. These are the limits of Allah, which He makes clear to a people who know.
After a third talaq, she cannot return to him without a genuine second marriage.
Quran, Surah Al-Baqara 2:229
ٱلطَّلَٰقُ مَرَّتَانِ ۖ فَإِمْسَاكٌۢ بِمَعْرُوفٍ أَوْ تَسْرِيحٌۢ بِإِحْسَٰنٍۢ ۗ وَلَا يَحِلُّ لَكُمْ أَن تَأْخُذُوا۟ مِمَّآ ءَاتَيْتُمُوهُنَّ شَيْـًٔا إِلَّآ أَن يَخَافَآ أَلَّا يُقِيمَا حُدُودَ ٱللَّهِ ۖ فَإِنْ خِفْتُمْ أَلَّا يُقِيمَا حُدُودَ ٱللَّهِ فَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْهِمَا فِيمَا ٱفْتَدَتْ بِهِۦ ۗ تِلْكَ حُدُودُ ٱللَّهِ فَلَا تَعْتَدُوهَا ۚ وَمَن يَتَعَدَّ حُدُودَ ٱللَّهِ فَأُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلظَّٰلِمُونَ ﴿٢٢٩﴾
Divorce is twice. Then, either keep [her] in an acceptable manner or release [her] with good treatment. And it is not lawful for you to take anything of what you have given them unless both fear that they will not be able to keep [within] the limits of Allah. But if you fear that they will not keep [within] the limits of Allah, then there is no blame upon either of them concerning that by which she ransoms herself. These are the limits of Allah, so do not transgress them. And whoever transgresses the limits of Allah - it is those who are the wrongdoers.
The revocable divorces are two; the third is final.
Sahih al-Bukhari 5260
Sahih... حتى تذوقي عسيلته ...
"Not until you taste his sweetness and he tastes yours."
The second marriage after three talaq must be genuine and consummated.
Sahih Muslim 1472
Sahih... كان الطلاق على عهد رسول الله وأبي بكر وسنتين من خلافة عمر طلاق الثلاث واحدة ...
"In the time of the Messenger of Allah, Abu Bakr and the first two years of Umar's rule, three talaqs were one."
The report used by those who count three as one; the four schools explain it differently.
Where the ruling is recorded
- al-Hidaya, Kitab al-Talaq, Bab Talaq al-Sunnah. Three at once is bid'ah, yet it takes effect.
- Radd al-Muhtar (Ibn Abidin), Kitab al-Talaq. Three in one word take effect as three, by the position of the majority of Companions and scholars.
- al-Mughni (Ibn Qudama), Kitab al-Talaq. The Hanbali position that three at once count as three.
This answer is pending review by the scholars on our team. Quran translation by Sahih International. Hadith Arabic from the standard editions of the six books and the Muwatta, with gradings as recorded there; the English is our own rendering. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.