Meta Tag Checker Live

Page URL (optional — shown in SERP preview)
Site Name (shown in SERP breadcrumb)
Title Tag Recommended: 50–60 chars / ≤600px
0 / 60
Meta Description Recommended: 150–160 chars / ≤920px
0 / 160
Focus Keyword (for keyword presence check)
Pixel Width Meter
TITLE TAG 0 px / 600 px
600px
META DESCRIPTION 0 px / 920 px
920px
Live SERP Preview

About This Meta Description Length Checker

What This Tool Checks

This tool measures the character count and actual pixel width of your title tag and meta description in real time as you type — using the HTML Canvas API with the exact Arial font sizes Google uses in search results. It gives you a true readout of whether your text will fit Google's display limits, not just an approximate character count.

  • Title tag character count — with color-coded bar (green: 50–60, amber: too short, red: over 60)
  • Title pixel width — measured in Arial 20px; Google's hard limit is 600px on desktop
  • Meta description character count — ideal range 150–160 chars; mobile stricter at ~130
  • Meta description pixel width — measured in Arial 14px; Google's hard limit is 920px
  • Focus keyword presence — detects keyword in title, description, and near the beginning
  • URL format check — validates HTTPS scheme for the SERP breadcrumb
  • One-click HTML snippet — copies title, description, keywords, robots, OG, and Twitter Card tags

How to Use This Tool

  • Type or paste your title tag — the bar turns green when you're in the 50–60 character optimal range
  • Type or paste your meta description — aim for 150–160 characters; the bar turns red if you exceed 160 characters or 920px
  • Enter your focus keyword to instantly see if it appears in both title and description and how early in the text it occurs
  • Click Load Sample to populate all fields with a well-optimised example and explore all features
  • Switch to the SERP Preview tab to see exactly how your snippet appears on Google desktop, mobile, and dark mode
  • Go to the SEO Score tab for a weighted 100-point score and a prioritised list of fixes sorted by severity
  • Use the Bulk Checker to paste multiple meta descriptions and audit a whole site's snippets at once
  • Click Copy HTML Tags to get ready-to-paste title, description, robots, Open Graph, and Twitter Card markup

Title Tags & Meta Descriptions — SEO Reference Guide

Characters vs. Pixels

Google measures snippets in pixels, not characters. Because Arial is a proportionally-spaced font, "W" is much wider than "i". A 60-character title made of narrow letters may fit in 400px; a 52-character title with many wide letters may overflow 600px. This tool uses Canvas API measurement with exact Google fonts — making it more accurate than any character-only checker.

Limits at a Glance

ElementCharsPixels
Title (desktop)50–60≤600px
Title (mobile)50–60≤580px
Description (desktop)150–160≤920px
Description (mobile)≤130≤680px

CTR & Rankings

Meta descriptions are not a direct ranking signal — Google has confirmed this. However, a well-written description that matches search intent increases click-through rate (CTR). Higher CTR from relevant queries sends positive engagement signals. When your keyword is in the description, Google bolds it in the snippet, making your listing more prominent and visually distinct from competitors.

Google Rewrites

Google rewrites approximately 70% of meta descriptions. It substitutes a passage from the page body when the query intent doesn't match the written description. Pages with accurate, keyword-rich descriptions that mirror the page's actual content are rewritten less often. Writing a strong description still matters — it also controls your Open Graph snippet on social platforms, which Google does not rewrite.

Meta Description & Title Tag FAQ

The ideal meta description length is 150 to 160 characters. Below 120 characters is considered too short — search engines may auto-generate a replacement snippet from the page body. Above 160 characters (or 920 pixels in Arial 14px) will be truncated with an ellipsis ("…") in desktop search results. On mobile, the stricter limit is approximately 130 characters. Writing within the 150–160 range ensures your full message appears and maximises click-through potential.

The ideal title tag length is 50 to 60 characters. Google's desktop limit is approximately 600 pixels in Arial 20px. Below 30 characters may signal a thin or generic title. Above 60 characters risks truncation in search results, reducing the full message visible to searchers. Placing your primary keyword near the start of the title is recommended — Google bolds it when it matches a user's query, increasing click-through rates.

Google measures snippet length in pixels because different characters have different visual widths in Arial font. The letter "W" is much wider than "i" or "l". A title with 60 narrow characters might fit within 600px, while 55 wide characters could overflow. Character count alone is therefore imprecise — pixel width is the true constraint. This tool measures actual pixel width using the HTML Canvas API with the exact Arial font sizes Google uses: 20px for titles and 14px for descriptions.

Yes, Google rewrites approximately 70% of meta descriptions by substituting a passage from the page body that better matches the user's specific query. However, well-written, keyword-rich descriptions that accurately summarise page content are rewritten less frequently. Still writing optimised descriptions is worthwhile — they control your Open Graph snippet on social platforms (which Google does not rewrite), and they serve as the default snippet for queries that closely match the page's intent.

Meta descriptions are not a direct Google ranking factor. Google has confirmed they do not use the meta description content to determine ranking position. However, they significantly influence click-through rate (CTR). A compelling description matching user intent drives more clicks, which sends positive engagement signals to Google. Higher CTR from relevant queries can indirectly improve rankings over time. The focus keyword in a description is also bolded by Google when it matches a search query, making your listing more visually prominent.

A well-optimised meta description should include: (1) your primary focus keyword, ideally within the first 120 characters; (2) a clear, accurate summary of what the page offers; (3) a value proposition that differentiates your page from competitors in the SERP; (4) an implicit or explicit call-to-action using active verbs like "Learn", "Find", "Check", or "Download"; (5) no keyword stuffing — Google may rewrite descriptions that appear manipulative. Keep the tone natural and write primarily for the user, not for search engines.

The title tag (in the HTML head) controls the clickable blue headline in Google search results and the browser tab — it is a critical on-page SEO element. The H1 is the main visible heading displayed on the page after users click through. Both should include the primary keyword, but they do not need to be identical. The title tag should be optimised for click-through in search results (50–60 characters), while the H1 can be more descriptive and user-focused. Having both with the target keyword reinforces topical relevance for Google.