Recommended lengths
| Element | Characters | Pixels (approx.) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meta title | 50–60 | ≈ 580 px | Wide letters take more room |
| Meta description (desktop) | 120–160 | ≈ 920 px | Often 2 lines |
| Meta description (mobile) | ≈ 120 | ≈ 680 px | Shows fewer characters |
| H1 | Under 70 | – | Not truncated in search |
| Open Graph title | ≈ 60–90 | – | Social platforms vary |
Pixel limits and display behaviour change. These are working guidelines. Check your own pages in the SERP Snippet Preview.
Why pixels, not characters
Search engines display a title link in a fixed-width box, so what matters is the width of the text. The letters “i” and “l” are narrow, while “W” and “M” are wide, so the same character count can fit or overflow. The Meta Title Length Checker estimates pixel width from Arial metrics to show this. All-capital titles lose characters quickly.
Google may rewrite them
Google often replaces the title link and the snippet with text it judges more relevant to the query. Industry studies of search results have found that titles are changed in a large share of cases, particularly when they are too long, stuffed with keywords or generic. A clear, concise title that matches the page’s H1 is the best way to keep your own wording. Descriptions are rewritten even more often, using text from the page that matches the search.
Writing them well
For titles: lead with the topic, include a distinguishing benefit, keep the brand short and at the end. For descriptions: summarise what the page offers in plain language, include a reason to click and avoid duplication. Check the combination with the Meta Description Length Checker. For Google Ads text, limits are fixed instead of fuzzy; see the Google Ads Headline Character Counter.
Common mistakes
- Identical titles and descriptions across many pages.
- Stuffing keywords in lists.
- Writing a title that does not match the content.
- Putting the brand first and the topic last, so the topic is truncated.
- Leaving descriptions empty on important pages.
Frequently asked questions
Is 60 characters the official title limit?
No. It is an average; the true limit is about 580 pixels.
How long can a meta description be?
About 155 to 160 characters on desktop.
Does length affect rankings?
Not directly.