What does this meta title length checker measure?
It measures the characters, the words and the estimated pixel width of your title. Pixel width matters most, because search results cut long titles by the space they take up, not by a fixed count. So it works as a title tag length checker for any page title or SEO title. For the reasoning behind the numbers, read our guide to meta title length.
The meta title is the text inside the <title> tag of a page. Browsers show it on the tab, and Google often uses it as the blue headline of a result, which it calls a title link. This page checks only that line. For the text under it, use the meta description length checker.
How long should a meta title be?
As a rule of thumb, aim for about 50 to 60 characters, spaces included. That usually fits in the roughly 580 pixels a desktop result gives a title. Google does not publish a title character limit, so treat this range as guidance rather than a rule. The same advice answers questions about SEO title length and page title length, because they all mean the same tag.
| Title length | What usually happens |
|---|---|
| Under 30 characters | Shows in full, but may leave out useful detail |
| About 30 to 60 characters | Usually shows in full on desktop |
| Over about 60 characters | Often cut off with "..." at the end |
A short title is not a mistake. The checker flags titles under 30 characters only to remind you that there is room for a useful detail. A title over 60 characters that still fits the width gets a soft note, not an error: it may show in full, but Google is more likely to rewrite or cut it.
Why are titles cut by pixels, not characters?
Because letters have different widths. A capital W takes several times the room of a lowercase i, so two titles of the same length can end at very different points.
So this tool measures the title in 20 pixel Arial and compares it with an estimate of about 580 pixels. It also warns you when most letters are capitals, because capitals are wider. Layouts change, so leave a little room. If your browser cannot measure text, the tool uses characters only and says so.
Does the brand suffix count toward title length?
Yes. Whatever you add to every title, such as "| Your Brand", takes room like any other text. Type it into the Brand suffix box and the checker adds it to the total. On inner pages, put the words that describe the page first and the brand last.
Will Google show my title exactly as written?
Not always. Google may rewrite a title link when other text on the page describes it better, which happens more often with titles that are very long, stuffed with keywords, vague or repeated across pages. One unique, accurate title per page, of a sensible length, makes a rewrite less likely. Google explains the details in its guide to influencing title links in search results.
How do I shorten a title that is too long?
Work on the end first, because that is where a cut falls. When the checker says Too long, it shows roughly what may remain, so you can see which words would be lost.
- Lead with the topic. Move the phrase people search for to the front.
- Cut filler. Words like "ultimate", "complete" and "best ever" rarely add meaning.
- Use one separator. A single colon or dash is enough.
- Shorten the brand. A short brand saves room on every page.
- Keep it honest. The title must promise what the page delivers.
To switch a title between Title Case and sentence case before you check it, use the text case converter. Our guide to choosing a headline capitalization style explains when each style fits.
Title examples
Here are three made-up titles with their character counts:
- 45 characters, good: "Sourdough Starter: Feed It in 5 Minutes a Day". The topic comes first and the whole line fits.
- 23 characters, short: "Sourdough Starter Guide". Clear, but there is room to add what makes the guide useful.
- 84 characters, too long: "The Ultimate Complete Guide to Making and Feeding Your Own Sourdough Starter at Home". The real topic starts after four words, and the end will almost certainly be cut.
Related tools and guides
Check the whole result before you publish with the SERP snippet preview tool, which shows the title, URL and description together on desktop and mobile. For plain counts in other places, such as social posts or form fields, the free character counter shows characters with and without spaces.
Our meta title length guide has more examples, and why characters matter more than words explains the counting.
Privacy
Your titles are measured in your browser. Nothing is uploaded, saved or tracked, and there is no sign-up. A title can be up to 300 characters and a brand suffix up to 100. Like every page on this site, this one may show ads from third-party vendors once ads are switched on, and those vendors can use cookies. Read the privacy policy for details.