Free tool

SERP snippet preview

See how your title and meta description actually render in Google — measured in pixels, the way Google truncates them.

Google preview
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Title516 / 580px

Fits, using 89% of the available width. · 55 characters

Description981 / 920px

61px too long — Google will cut it. Trim roughly 8 characters. · 157 characters

Google truncates by pixel width, not character count — “Illinois” and “WWWWWWWW” are both eight characters and take very different space. That is why a 60-character rule of thumb sometimes cuts and sometimes leaves room.

Why character counts give you the wrong answer

Almost every "SEO title length" guide tells you to stay under 60 characters. Google does not count characters — it renders your title in Arial and cuts it when it exceeds the available pixel width. A title of 60 narrow characters fits comfortably; 55 wide ones get truncated. This tool measures the rendered width, so you find out before Google does.

  • Titles render at about 20px, descriptions at about 14px
  • Desktop titles have roughly 580px of space; mobile has more
  • Google cuts at a word boundary and appends an ellipsis
  • A truncated title loses the keyword you put at the end

Frequently asked questions

How long should a title tag be?+

Aim for roughly 50–60 characters, but verify by pixel width. The practical target is filling 90–100% of the available space without crossing it — that gives you the most room for keywords and context without truncation.

Does Google always show my title?+

No. Google rewrites titles on roughly a third of queries, often substituting your H1 or the site name. Writing a title that fits and matches the page content makes a rewrite less likely.

Do meta descriptions affect rankings?+

Not directly — Google has confirmed meta descriptions are not a ranking factor. They affect click-through rate, which is worth optimizing on its own terms.

Why does the mobile preview allow more text?+

Mobile results wrap onto more lines, so a longer title survives. Because most searches are mobile, check both — a title that fits mobile can still be cut on desktop.

Is my data sent anywhere?+

No. The measurement runs entirely in your browser. Nothing you type is submitted to a server or stored.

Track what this tool only checks once

RankVault monitors your rankings across Google and Bing from your own Search Console data — free, unlimited, and no credit card.