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SERP preview tool
Type a title, meta description and URL to see how your page could look in Google on desktop and mobile. The tool measures pixel width, shows where text is likely to be cut and counts characters.
How it could look in Google
A guide only. Google often rewrites titles and descriptions, and the exact cut-off moves with each letter's width.
Worked example.
A Harrogate dog groomer is writing the title and meta description for its main services page.
- Title
- Dog Grooming in Harrogate | Bath, Trim and Nail Clip
- Meta description
- Book a full dog groom in Harrogate with a friendly local groomer. Bath, blow dry, breed trim, nail clip and ear clean are all included in one price. Open six days a week, with free parking right outside.
- Page URL
- https://example.com/dog-grooming-harrogate
The title is 52 characters and about 470 pixels wide, so it shows in full. The description is 203 characters and about 1,220 pixels, well past the roughly 920 pixel limit, so the preview cuts it with an ellipsis and the free parking detail is lost (trim it to around 155 characters or move that detail earlier).
How it works.
The maths and the rules behind the tool, so you can check it yourself.
Enter your page title, meta description and URL. The tool shows a Google-style result for desktop and mobile, so you can see what a searcher would see before you publish.
Google cuts titles and descriptions by pixel width, not by a fixed number of characters. A wide letter like W takes up far more room than an i or an l, so the tool measures each line at Google's font sizes and cuts it with an ellipsis where Google is likely to. Character counts are shown too, as a quick cross-check.
Google often rewrites titles and descriptions to suit the search, so treat the preview as a guide, not a promise. A clear, accurate title and description give you the best chance of Google showing what you wrote.
Tips.
Small changes that make the numbers more useful.
- Put your main keyword and the most useful detail near the start of the title. If anything gets cut, it will be the end.
- Watch the pixel width, not just the character count. A title full of capitals or wide letters can be cut well before 60 characters.
- Give every page its own title and description. Pages with near identical snippets are harder for searchers to tell apart, and Google is more likely to rewrite them.
- Treat the description like a short advert: say what the page offers, add a concrete detail such as a price, area or delivery time, and put the key point in the first sentence because mobile shows less.
- Keep the title in line with the page's main heading and content. Titles that are vague, stuffed with keywords or do not match the page are the ones Google tends to change.
Questions, answered.
How long should a title tag be for Google?
Google cuts titles at roughly 600 pixels wide, which is often around 50 to 60 characters. Because letters vary in width, pixel width is the better guide. Put the words that matter most at the start so a cut does not hide them.
How long should a meta description be?
On desktop, Google cuts descriptions at roughly 920 pixels, often around 150 to 160 characters, and mobile shows less. There is no penalty for going over, but anything past the cut is not seen. Keep your main point in the first sentence.
Why does Google show a different title or description from the one I wrote?
Google often rewrites titles and descriptions when it thinks other text better matches the search. It may use your headings, other text on the page or a different part of your description. You cannot force Google to use yours, but a clear, accurate title and description that match the page make it more likely.
Do meta descriptions affect SEO rankings?
Google has said the meta description is not used as a ranking factor. It still matters, because it is often the text people read before deciding whether to click. A clear description that matches the search gives people a reason to choose your result.
Where do I change my page title and meta description?
Most website builders have SEO settings for each page. In Shopify, open a product, collection or page, scroll to the search engine listing section and click edit. If you would like help with titles, descriptions and the rest of your search setup, Infinity offers SEO as a service.
More free tools.
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