Meta Length Checker – Title Tag & Description Tool

Best Practice Title Tag & Meta-Description Lengths in 2024

How long can title tags be?

On desktop, Google shows 600 pixels of <title> tags. Google does not set a character limit, but for an estimation, results tends to show the first 50–60 characters of a title tag.

How long can my meta-description be?

Google changes the pixel length of meta descriptions all the time. We keep our tool as up to date as possible, so your meta remains optimised.

In 2024, the meta description length is 920 pixels. This equates to 158 characters on average. Rather than cutting to characters, Google truncates long descriptions to the nearest whole word and adds an ellipsis.

This varies depending on devices.

On mobile, it’s 680 pixels, which is about 120 characters.

How long should my meta description be?

For the best results, aim for between 120 and 158 characters. This will give you the best-looking description across all devices and will not be cut off. Remember, if you see a description longer than 160 characters, Google does allow exceptions! However, it’s better to be safe than sorry.

Make sure you include the keywords you want to target, as these will appear in bold in the description if the searcher types them.

You also want to be inviting (shop window, remember!), so make it informative, eye catching and engaging.

That’s a lot to squeeze into fewer characters than a Tweet, but you can do it.

We believe in you!

How important are title tags in 2024?

Title tags are a major ranking factor when it comes to SEO. They help search engines understand what your website’s page or blog post is about. Google needs to know what your page is about if it’s going to serve it to a searcher.

So, the takeaway here is – don’t rush them and consider them carefully!

What is the best practice for title tags in 2024?

As of 2021, Google altered websites’ title tags. If it doesn’t like what you’ve set, it can chop bits off, and even replace them entirely.

But don’t panic – here are a few newer best practice rules to consider: 

• Avoid segmenting titles into anything more than two parts.
• Avoid using brackets and avoid using pipes | as separators. Hyphens are your best friend now.
• Avoid using branding at the end of your title tag as one of your two parts (unless it is contextually relevant or a brand-centric page like your homepage/contact page)

How can I make my meta descriptions stand out in 2024?

Get creative! Look at what your competitors are doing and see if you can break the mould. Whether it’s with a different tone, an attractive proposition or a bit of click bait(within reason), see how you can make your meta description stand out.

Another way of making your page stand out in Google search results is to make the most of Schema Markup. This will help specific types of content, such as recipes, local listings or news articles stand out all the more!