Meta Title & Description Length Checker
Character counts are a rough guide. Google truncates on pixel width — so this measures that instead.
Truncation preview
What the meta Title & Description Length Checker does
Almost every guide gives meta title and description limits in characters — 60 and 160 are
the usual numbers. Those figures are a convenient approximation of something Google does not
actually measure. Search results are laid out in a fixed-width container, and the title is cut when
the rendered text runs past roughly 580 pixels on desktop. A character is not a fixed width: a title
of sixty is and a title of sixty Ws differ by more than double.
This checker measures the real thing. It renders your text into an off-screen canvas using the fonts and sizes Google uses — about 20px Arial for desktop titles, 14px Arial for descriptions — and reports the pixel width alongside the character count. The preview underneath shows where the ellipsis will actually fall.
Two practical consequences follow. First, a title full of narrow letters can run to 70 characters and still fit, while one heavy in capitals and wide letters gets truncated at 55. Second, front-load the words that matter: whatever survives truncation is what a searcher reads, and a brand name sitting at the front of every title wastes the most valuable space on the page.
Descriptions work differently. Google rewrites them for most queries, drawing a snippet from the page body instead. A well-written description still matters — it is what shows when Google does use it, and it influences click-through — but treat the length as a budget for the first sentence rather than a target to fill.
How to use it
- Paste your meta title into the first field and watch the pixel width, not just the character count.
- Aim for a title under 580 pixels on desktop, with the distinguishing words first.
- Do the same for the description, keeping the key point inside the first sentence.
- Check the preview at the bottom to see exactly where truncation would fall.
A worked example
Two titles of almost identical character length behave very differently:
| Title | Characters | Pixels | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
Minimal Living: tiny-home ideas for city life | 44 | ~398 | Fits easily |
WORLDWIDE WHOLESALE WAREHOUSE MACHINERY LLC | 43 | ~575 | Right at the edge |
One character apart, 177 pixels apart. Capitals and wide letters like W and M eat the budget.
The other common mistake is order. Stride Lab | Best Running Shoes for Flat Feet in
2026 and Best Running Shoes for Flat Feet in 2026 | Stride Lab are the same
length, but if either gets truncated the first one loses the entire subject and shows a searcher
nothing but a brand they do not recognise.
Frequently asked questions
What is the correct meta title length?
Under about 580 pixels on desktop, which is usually 50–60 characters but depends entirely on which characters. Measure the pixel width rather than counting, and put the distinguishing words first so a truncated title still communicates.
Why does Google ignore my meta description?
Google rewrites descriptions for the majority of queries, generating a snippet from page content that matches the specific search. A good description still matters for the queries where it is used, but you cannot force it. What you can control is that the page contains clear, quotable sentences on the topic.
Do pixel limits differ on mobile?
Yes, and the layout changes more often than the desktop one. Mobile titles are cut nearer 495 pixels at a slightly smaller font, so a title that just fits on desktop may not on a phone. Both figures are shown above.
Does the length of a title affect rankings?
Not directly. Length affects whether a searcher sees your full message, which affects click-through, which matters. A truncated title is a lost opportunity to persuade, not a ranking penalty.