Guide · search engine optimisation
Google SEO title and description character limits: the complete guide
When a page appears in Google's search results, its title and description are cut off after a certain length. This guide explains how long the title and meta description should be so the message shows in full and tempts people to click.
The title's character limit
A page's title is the single most important element in a search result. The practical recommendation is to keep it around 50–60 characters long. Google measures the visible space in pixels, so the exact limit varies with the width of the letters, but 60 characters is a safe rule of thumb. Put the most important keyword at the start so it shows even when the title is shortened.
You can check a title's length quickly by pasting it into the character counter and setting a target of 60 characters. You'll see at once whether the title fits the limit or is worth tightening.
The meta description's character limit
The meta description is the short text shown below the title that describes the page's content. A suitable length is around 150–160 characters. Google doesn't always show the description as is — it may assemble one from the page content — but a well-written description within the limit still improves the click-through rate. Use the 160-character counter and you'll easily stay the right length.
Rule of thumb: title 50–60 characters, description 150–160 characters. That way both show in full in search results on most devices.
Character limits as a table
| Element | Recommended length | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Title | 50–60 | Most important word first. |
| Meta description | 150–160 | Appealing and descriptive. |
| URL | short | A clear, readable path. |
| H1 heading | 1 | One main heading per page. |
Common mistakes
- Too long a title: the most important message ends up behind the cut-off part.
- Keyword stuffing: a title that is just a list of keywords looks like spam.
- The same description on every page: it's worth writing a unique description for each page.
When you avoid these mistakes and stay within the recommended character limits, your text appears clear and appealing in search results. You'll find more practical counting tips in the article counting characters and words correctly.
The title on mobile and desktop
A search result looks a different length on a phone and on a computer. On a mobile device the visible space is narrower, so a long title can be cut off earlier than on desktop. Because more and more searches are done on phones, it's worth making sure the most important part of the title fits within the first few characters. That way the message gets across whatever the device.
A practical rule of thumb is to make the title so clear that it works even if the end is cut off. Start with the keyword, state the page's benefit right away and leave out filler words. When you test the title with the character counter at a 60-character target, you'll see at once whether it stays a safe length.
How to write an appealing title and description
- Promise a clear benefit: say what the reader gets when they click.
- Use concrete words: numbers and precise expressions stand out in search results.
- Avoid repetition: don't repeat the same keyword many times in the title and description.
- Write a unique one for each page: individual titles and descriptions help both the user and the search engine.
When you combine the right character count with appealing wording, your text appears in full in search results and gets more clicks. Remember that with the counter you check the length in a second, so you can try several versions and pick the best.
Title and description on social media
Character limits don't apply only to the search engine. When you share a page's link on social media — for example on Facebook or LinkedIn — the service shows the page's Open Graph title and description. These are often the same as the search engine title and description, and in them too text that is too long is cut off. A good practice is to keep a shared title clearly under 60 characters and the description at around 150 characters, so the link preview looks tidy both in search results and on social media. That way the same concise wording serves every channel at once.
You can check both lengths with the same tool: paste the title and description in turn into the character counter, where you'll see ready-made targets for the SEO title (60) and the meta description (160). If you publish a lot to social media, try the 160-character counter too, which suits short social posts and text messages. That way the same polished wording works at once in search results, link previews and short messages, with no extra effort.
Frequently asked questions
How long should a page title be?
The recommendation is around 50–60 characters. A longer title is often cut off in search results. It's worth putting the most important word at the start so it shows even in shortened form.
How long should the meta description be?
Around 150–160 characters is a safe length. Google may show the description shorter or edit it, but within this limit the most important message stays visible.
Does the character count directly affect rankings?
The length of the title and description is not a direct ranking factor, but they affect the click-through rate. An appealing title that shows in full brings more visitors.