Title and meta description checker
Type a title and a meta description to see their length in characters and pixels and a search result preview that shows where they may be cut off.
Free · no signup Runs in your browser
How long should a title and meta description be?
Google publishes no fixed limit. It truncates a title link to fit the width of the device, which in practice is roughly 600 pixels or about 50 to 60 characters, and it shows about 150 to 160 characters of a description. Type yours here to see the length in characters and pixels and a preview of how it may look. Keep the important words at the start.
Why check title and description length
The title and the description are the two pieces of text a searcher reads before deciding to click. If the title is cut off in the middle of the key phrase, or the description trails off before it makes its point, you lose clicks that a few words of editing would have kept.
Google says plainly that there is no limit on how long a title element can be, and that the title link is truncated as needed, typically to fit the device width. Because the width depends on the letters (a row of 'i' letters is narrower than a row of 'W' letters), a pixel measure is more useful than a character count. The tool shows both, and lets you change the guideline widths. Google may also choose a different snippet from the page, so a good description is a strong suggestion rather than a guarantee.
It runs in your browser. What you type is never sent anywhere, and there is no sign-up.
When to use it
- Writing a title and description for a new page
- Checking existing pages that show a cut-off title in search
- Comparing two title options by width
- Reviewing a batch of pages before a launch
Mistakes it helps you avoid
- Putting the main keyword at the end of a long title, where it is cut off.
- Writing a description so short that Google fills the space with random page text.
- Using the same title and description on many pages.
- Treating the limits as rules: Google may rewrite either one.
How it works
Everything happens in your browser as you type.
title width = the title drawn in Arial 20 px, measured in pixels (guideline 600 px)title preview = the title cut at the guideline width and ended with …description length = characters after collapsing extra spaces (guideline 160)description preview = the description cut at the last whole word before the guideline
These guidelines are common industry figures, not Google rules: Google states that there is no limit on a title's length and that the title link is truncated to fit the device width, and that it may use text from the page instead of your description. The pixel measure uses Arial 20 px, close to the font Google has used for title links on desktop, drawn with your browser's text engine, so it can differ by a few pixels from what you see in search.
Example: a title that is a little too long
You write the title 'Free Meta Description Length Checker and Search Result Preview Tool for Every Page' and want to know if it will fit.
- Length82 characters
- Estimated widthwell over 600 px
- PreviewCut off around 'Search Result Preview'
- FixMove the key words to the front and shorten
Shorten it to 'Meta Description Length Checker | Search Preview' to fit comfortably
Your own text will give different figures.
Terms on this page
- Title link
- The clickable headline of a search result, usually taken from the page's title element.
- Meta description
- A summary of the page that search engines may show under the title.
Common questions
Is there an official meta title length limit?
No. Google says there is no limit on how long a title element can be, and that the title link is truncated as needed to fit the device width.
What is a good meta description length?
About 150 to 160 characters is a common target. Google may show more or less, and may use text from the page instead.
Why does Google show a different title from mine?
Google may rewrite a title link if it thinks the title is too long, stuffed with keywords or does not describe the page. A clear, concise title lowers the chance.
Why use pixels instead of characters?
Characters have different widths, so a title of 60 wide letters is wider than one of 60 narrow ones. Pixel width predicts truncation better.
Is my text uploaded?
No. The checks run in your browser and nothing is sent anywhere.
Where these numbers come from
- Google Search Central — Influencing your title links in search results No limit on title length, but the title link is truncated to fit the device width.
- Google Search Central — Control your snippets in search results How Google chooses the snippet, including the meta description, and why it may differ.
Last verified 2026-10-25 The method on this page is checked against the sources above at least once a year. Spotted something out of date? Tell us and we will fix it.
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