SERP snippet preview
Type a title and meta description to see roughly how they display in a desktop Google result, and whether either gets cut off. Google truncates by pixel width, so the tool measures each line in the font Google uses instead of counting characters.
- The title fits.
- The description runs long and will be truncated around “ click, and how to fix …”.
Why pixels, not characters
A title of 60 narrow letters can fit while 50 wide ones do not: W is several times wider than i. Desktop results set titles in 20px Arial and descriptions in 14px Arial, and the cut-off sits around 580px for titles and about 920px for descriptions. Those limits shift slightly over time and between devices, so treat them as guidance. A title that fits with a few pixels to spare is fine; one that is 100px over will lose its last words.
What to do with the result
- Title cut off: move the words people search for to the front and drop filler like "Welcome to" or a long brand suffix.
- Description cut off: the first 120 characters matter most, so put the concrete detail there.
- Everything fits but reads flat: mirror the words of the query you want the page to rank for. Google bolds matching terms.
Google may still rewrite either line, especially when the description does not match the query. See how to write descriptions Google keeps and the title tag mistakes that cost clicks.
Check a live page
To check titles and descriptions on pages that are already published, run the free audit. It flags missing, short and truncated titles and descriptions on any URL.
Common questions
How long should a title tag be?
Aim for about 50 to 60 characters, but what really counts is width: under roughly 580 pixels on desktop. Put the main topic first so nothing important is lost if it is cut.
How long should a meta description be?
About 120 to 158 characters fits most desktop results. Longer descriptions are not penalized, they are just truncated.
Why does Google show a different title than mine?
Google rewrites titles it thinks describe the page poorly, such as ones that are very long, stuffed with keywords or out of step with the H1. A concise, accurate title that matches the page is the one it usually keeps.