SERP Snippet Preview

How a search result is built

Each result in Google shows three things you control: a blue title, the page address and a short description. When your title or description is too wide for the space, the search engine cuts it off with an ellipsis, or rewrites it from the page content instead.

Part	Rough guide
Title	About 50 to 60 characters, or roughly 600 pixels wide
Description	About 120 to 160 characters; mobile shows a little less
URL	Shown as the site name followed by the path, with slashes turned into arrows

Limits are based on pixel width, not character count, so a title full of wide letters such as W and M runs out of room sooner than one with narrow letters such as i and l. This tool measures your text in the browser using Arial, which is close to what Google uses. The result is an estimate: Google can change its layout and may show a different title or description than the one you wrote. Nothing you type is sent to a server.

Frequently asked

How long should a title tag be?

Aim for about 50 to 60 characters, or under roughly 600 pixels. Titles that are longer are often cut off with an ellipsis in search results.

How long should a meta description be?

Around 120 to 160 characters works for most pages. Shorter on mobile is fine. Write it as a plain summary that makes someone want to click.

Why does Google show a different title or description?

Google may rewrite either one if it thinks another part of the page matches the search better, or if yours is missing, too short, too long or repeated across pages. A clear, specific, unique title and description make a rewrite less likely.

Is this exactly what Google will show?

No. It is a close estimate based on pixel width in Arial. Google adjusts its layout from time to time, and results vary by device and search.

Is my text uploaded?

No. The preview is made in your browser and nothing is sent to a server.