Meta Description Length Checker
Check your meta description length against Google's ~155–160 character display limit before it gets truncated in search results.
0
Characters
160
Remaining
0
Words
0%
Of limit used
How to use Meta Description Length Checker.
- 1
Type or paste your text into the box
- 2
Watch the live counter track your 160-character budget
- 3
Trim until the remaining count is comfortable
- 4
Copy your final text with one click
Why use this tool.
Never get cut off — see exactly when you cross Google search results's limit
Draft and trim in one place instead of counting by trial and error
Nothing you type is stored or transmitted
Free, instant, no signup
About Meta Description Length Checker.
A meta description that ends mid-sentence with "…" wastes the one free ad slot Google gives every page. This checker counts your description against the ~155–160 character desktop cutoff live as you type, so you can end on a complete thought and a reason to click. Write for the query, front-load the first 120 characters (mobile cuts earlier), and remember Google may rewrite your description — but the pages where it keeps yours are usually the queries you care most about. Check your title tags here too: they cut around 60 characters.
Frequently asked questions.
How long should a meta description be?
Aim for 120–160 characters. Google truncates by pixel width (about 920px on desktop), which lands around 155–160 characters — and mobile can cut closer to 120. Front-load the value proposition in the first 120 characters.
Is the limit really characters?
Technically Google truncates by pixel width, so wide letters (W, M) use more budget than narrow ones (i, l). Character count is a reliable approximation: stay under 160 and you are safe in almost all cases.
Does Google always use my meta description?
No — Google rewrites descriptions for a majority of queries when it thinks page content matches the search better. A well-written description still wins for your primary queries and controls your social-share preview text.
What about title tags?
Title tags truncate around 60 characters (~580px). The same rule applies: put the distinctive keywords first, brand name last.