How to use the preview
- Type or paste your page title and meta description.
- Watch the bars: green means a good length, amber means short, red means it will probably get cut off.
- Switch between Desktop and Phone to see both.
- When it reads well, copy the text into your page's <title> tag and description meta tag, or your site builder's SEO settings.
What a good title and description do
- Title: roughly 50 to 60 characters. Lead with what the page offers, then your brand. Google cuts titles by width, about 600 pixels on desktop, so wide letters like W and M use up room faster.
- Meta description: roughly 140 to 160 characters. Say what people get and give them a reason to click. It doesn't directly change rankings, but a clear one can earn more clicks.
- One of each for every important page. Copying the same description across pages makes them all look alike in results.
For examples and common mistakes, read our guide on how to write title tags and meta descriptions.
Questions
Is this exactly what Google will show?
It's a close guide, not an exact copy. Google measures titles in pixels, changes its layout from time to time, and sometimes rewrites titles and descriptions using other text from your page.
Why does my title get cut off before 60 characters?
Google limits titles by width, not by letter count. Wide letters and capitals take more room, so a title in all capitals gets cut much sooner.
How long should a meta description be?
Roughly 140 to 160 characters works well on desktop. Phones often show less, so put the most useful words first.
Do I need a meta description at all?
It's optional, but it's your best chance to choose the words people read under your title. Write one for every page you want people to find.
More free tools
- UTM link builder: Tag any link with source, medium and campaign so your analytics show which posts, emails and listings bring visits.
- Review link and QR code maker: Turn your Google review link or Place ID into a QR code, a printable counter card and a ready-to-send message.
- See all free tools