Meta Title & Description Length Checker
See whether your page title and meta description will fit in Google's search results. It measures length in characters and in estimated pixels, previews the result on desktop and mobile, and gives you copy-ready HTML. Everything runs in your browser.
What meta titles and descriptions do
The title (the <title> tag) is usually the blue headline of a search result, and the meta description is the summary under it. Neither is a magic ranking switch. Their job is to tell searchers what the page is about and persuade them that it's the right result to click, which is why they are worth getting right.
Why length matters, and why pixels beat characters
When a title or description is too long, search engines cut it off with an ellipsis, and the ending you wrote never gets read. Google cuts by the width of the text on screen rather than by a number of characters. A title made of narrow letters such as "i" and "l" can be far longer in characters than one made of wide letters such as "W" and "M" before it is cut.
That is why this checker shows both numbers. As a rough guide, titles of about 50 to 60 characters and descriptions of about 120 to 155 characters fit most of the time, but the pixel figure is the better predictor.
How this checker measures
Google shows results in Arial, so Latin text here is measured with Arial's real letter widths. That gives the same answer on every device, instead of depending on which fonts your computer has installed. Titles are measured at 20 px and descriptions at 14 px, against limits of about 580 px for a title and about 1,000 px (desktop) or 760 px (mobile) for a description.
These limits are estimates. Google does not publish exact numbers, it changes its layout from time to time, and it often rewrites titles and descriptions to better match a search. For scripts such as Urdu, Arabic, Hindi and Chinese, and for emoji, the width is measured by your browser and is less exact.
Recommended lengths
| Element | Aim for | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Title | About 30 to 60 characters, under about 580 px | Longer titles are cut off; very short ones waste a chance to describe the page. |
| Description (desktop) | About 70 to 155 characters, under about 1,000 px | Enough room to summarise the page and give a reason to click. |
| Description (mobile) | Front-load the point, within about 760 px | Mobile results show less text, so the first sentence does the work. |
Tips for writing good ones
- Write one per page. Repeating the same title or description across many pages makes results look identical and gives searchers no reason to choose yours.
- Lead with what matters. Put the main topic near the start of the title, and the most useful point at the start of the description, in case the end is cut.
- Describe the page honestly. A description that promises something the page doesn't deliver brings clicks that quickly bounce back.
- Write for people, not a keyword list. Use the words a searcher would use once, naturally. Stuffing keywords reads badly and doesn't help.
- Keep the brand short. A short " | Brand" suffix is fine; a long one uses up space the topic needs.
For the bigger picture, see our guides on SEO for beginners and keyword research. If you only need a plain character count, use the Word Counter.
Frequently asked questions
Does the meta description affect my ranking?
Google has said it doesn't use the meta description as a ranking signal. A good one can still improve how many people click your result, which is why it matters.
Why does Google show a different title or description from mine?
Google may replace either one when it thinks another part of the page matches the search better, or when yours is missing, too short, or doesn't describe the page. A clear, accurate, well-sized description makes that less likely, but it can't be prevented.
Are my title and description stored anywhere?
No. Everything is calculated in your browser, and nothing you type here is sent or saved by this page.
Why are there two limits for the description?
Desktop results have more room than mobile results, so a description that fits on desktop can still be cut short on a phone. Use the Desktop and Mobile buttons to see the difference.
More free tools
- Word Counter: count words, characters and reading time
- Slug Generator: turn any title into a clean URL slug
- All tools