Meta description length in 2026: how long should it be?

What Google says

Google's snippet documentation is short on this point: there is no character limit for meta descriptions, and snippets are "truncated in Google Search results as needed, typically to fit the device width" (Google, snippets, updated April 20, 2026).

So "155 characters" is not a Google rule. It is a practical size that usually shows without being cut. A longer description is not penalized. It just risks losing its last words to "...".

Why tools say 155 or 160: pixels, not characters

Google cuts snippets by screen space, not by a character count. Wide letters (W, M, capitals) use more space than narrow ones (i, l, t). That is why SEO tools disagree:

All of these are estimates of the same thing: what fits on a typical screen.

Desktop vs mobile

• Desktop: results are wider, so more text fits. Around 150 to 160 characters often shows.
• Mobile: most searches happen here, and the visible text depends on the phone. Assume less fits.

The safe approach works on both: make the first sentence carry the point, and let the second sentence add a detail. If the second sentence gets cut, nothing important is lost.

To see where your text gets cut, paste it into our free SERP preview tool.

Title length: 50 to 60 characters

Titles are trimmed the same way, by width. About 50 to 60 characters usually shows in full on desktop. In a 2022 study of 80,959 titles, titles of 51 to 60 characters were the least likely to be rewritten by Google, and titles over 70 characters were almost always changed (Zyppy, 2022). More on that in why Google rewrites title tags.

Too short is a problem too

A 40-character description like "Quality dental care in Tacoma." wastes the space you have. It gives Google little reason to prefer it over page text, and it gives searchers no reason to click. Aim to fill at least 100 characters with useful facts.

Examples at 3 lengths

The same fictional page, northwind-outdoors.com/products/trail-tent-2p:

Count before you publish: our character counter shows the length as you type.

Length matters less than these 3 things

1. Specific to the page. Google prefers unique descriptions that summarize the page.
2. Matches the search. Google may pick page text over your description when it fits the query better. See why Google is not using your meta description.
3. A reason to click. One fact and one next step beat a perfect character count.