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SERP Snippet Preview

See how your page will look in Google's search results and check whether your meta title and description fit within Google's pixel limits — instantly, in your browser, free of charge.

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Snippet details

0 / 600 px

0 / 960 px

Matches are shown in bold in the preview, the way Google highlights query matches in search results.

Google preview

example.com
example.com
e.g. How IBAN check digits work – a plain-English guide

e.g. Learn how the two IBAN check digits are calculated, why they matter, and how to validate any IBAN by hand in a few steps.

Approximate preview. Google may rewrite titles and descriptions and shows results differently depending on the query, device and other factors.

Why pixels matter more than characters

Google does not cut off titles and descriptions at a fixed number of characters — it cuts them off at a fixed width in pixels. Because letters have different widths (a capital "W" is far wider than a lowercase "i"), two titles with the same character count can render at very different widths. A title of narrow letters may fit comfortably while an equally long title of wide letters gets truncated with an ellipsis. That is why this tool measures the rendered pixel width of your title and description in Google's font (Arial) rather than just counting characters. Titles are cut off around 600 pixels; descriptions around 960 pixels on desktop and roughly 680 pixels on mobile.

Optimal length for title and description

As a rule of thumb, keep your meta title under 600 pixels — that is usually about 50 to 60 characters — so it displays in full. Put the most important keywords near the front, in case Google still shortens it. For the meta description, aim to stay under roughly 960 pixels on desktop (about 150 to 160 characters); on mobile the visible space is smaller, around 680 pixels. A description that runs slightly long is not harmful, but everything past the limit is hidden, so front-load the message that should make someone click. Use the progress bars above: green means you have room, amber means you are close to the limit, and red means Google will truncate.

Frequently asked questions

Why does this tool measure pixels instead of characters?
Google truncates search snippets by pixel width, not character count. Wide letters like W and M take up much more space than narrow ones like i and l, so a character limit is only a rough guide. Measuring pixels in Google's font gives a far more accurate picture of what will actually be shown.
What are the pixel limits for title and description?
Titles are typically cut off at around 600 pixels. Descriptions are cut off at roughly 960 pixels on desktop and about 680 pixels on mobile. These values approximate Google's current behaviour, which can change over time and vary by query.
How many characters is that in words?
Very roughly, 600 pixels is about 50 to 60 characters for a title, and 960 pixels is about 150 to 160 characters for a description. The exact number depends entirely on which letters you use, which is why the pixel bar is more reliable than a character count.
Why does the preview differ between desktop and mobile?
Google shows less description text on narrow mobile screens, so the pixel budget is smaller there. The desktop and mobile toggle lets you check both. A description that fits on desktop can still be truncated on mobile.
Will Google always show exactly what I enter here?
No. Google frequently rewrites titles and generates its own descriptions based on the search query and page content. This tool shows how your provided title and description would look if used as-is, which is the best starting point for optimisation, but the live result can differ.
Why does Google sometimes rewrite or ignore my meta description?
Google generates the snippet it thinks best answers the searcher's query. If your meta description does not closely match what someone searched for, Google often pulls a more relevant passage straight from your page content instead. Writing a description that mirrors your target search terms makes it more likely to be used as-is.
Does repeating my target keyword in the title help rankings?
Stuffing the same keyword multiple times does not improve rankings and can make the title look spammy, which hurts click-through rate. Include the keyword once, naturally, near the front, and spend the rest of the pixel budget on what makes a person want to click.
Do emoji or special characters take up more pixel width than normal letters?
Yes, often. This tool estimates width using standard letter-width data, so very wide characters, emoji and symbols outside the tabulated set fall back to an average width. Treat the pixel bar as a close approximation for text that is mostly plain letters, and be a little more cautious with heavy emoji or symbol use.
How long does it take for a changed title or description to show up in Google?
There is no fixed timeline. It depends on how often Google recrawls your page, which can range from hours to weeks. You can speed this up by requesting indexing in Google Search Console after publishing the change.
What's the difference between this meta description and the og:description tag?
The meta description checked here is what Google may show in search results. The Open Graph og:description tag is what social platforms like Facebook, LinkedIn or WhatsApp show when your page is shared as a link. They can hold the same text, but many sites write them slightly differently since a search snippet and a shared-link card serve different purposes. Our Open Graph & Meta Tag Generator tool covers the social side.
Do separators like "|" or "–" in the title waste pixel budget?
Yes, every character including separators and surrounding spaces counts toward the pixel width. A separator between your page title and site name is common and useful for branding, but if your title is already close to the limit, a separator plus site name can be what pushes it over into truncation.

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