Google / Search HTML meta description character limit
The Google / Search html meta description limit is 160 characters.
Check your text against the Meta Description limit
About the Google / Search character limit
Google displays up to approximately 160 characters of a page's meta description in search results. Descriptions longer than this are truncated with an ellipsis. Aim for 150–160 characters to maximise the preview without being cut off.
Tips for writing within the Google / Search limit
- Aim for 150–160 characters — long enough to be descriptive, short enough to avoid truncation.
- Include your primary keyword naturally within the description.
- Write a genuine summary — Google may rewrite your description if it does not match the page content.
- Mobile search results display fewer characters (~120) — front-load the most critical information.
Why character limits exist
Character limits serve different purposes across platforms. On Twitter / X, the 280- character limit encourages concise communication and keeps the timeline scannable. On SMS, the 160-character limit is a technical constraint from the GSM protocol dating back to 1985. For SEO fields like meta descriptions and page titles, limits reflect the physical pixel width of Google's search result snippets — not a character count enforced by Google, but a practical constraint for avoiding truncation.
Need to check character counts across all platforms at once? Use the full character counter →
Frequently asked questions
What is the Google / Search html meta description character limit?
The Google / Search html meta description limit is 160 characters. Aim for 150–160 characters — long enough to be descriptive, short enough to avoid truncation.
Does the Google / Search html meta description limit include spaces?
Yes. Spaces count as characters toward the 160-character limit on Google / Search, the same as letters and punctuation.
What happens if I exceed the Google / Search character limit?
Google / Search will prevent you from posting or saving if you exceed the 160-character limit. The character counter in the platform's editor turns red when you approach or hit the limit.
Do emojis count as characters on Google / Search?
Yes, emojis count as characters. Most emoji use 1–2 characters of your limit depending on the platform's encoding. Check the live counter above as you type — it shows the exact count as Google / Search would see it.