What this does
Google does not publish a fixed character cap; snippets truncate by pixel width. In practice teams still budget about 150–160 characters. This page uses the word/character counter with that budget in mind — not essays, not tweets.
A generic word counter talks about reading time. This landing talks about SERP truncation, keywords in the first clause, and why stuffing 300 characters is wasted.
People editing `meta description` fields in a CMS.
Meta descriptions are ad copy for a blue link. They are not the article. If you cannot say the point in 160 characters, the page title is doing too much work.
CMS fields that append “| Brand” will blow your count after you paste. Count again in the live preview.
Search snippets also depend on pixel width. A string of wide letters (W, M) truncates sooner than a string of i’s. Treat 150–160 as a draft budget, then look at the live SERP preview in Search Console or a snippet simulator if the page already ranks.
Do not write a meta that the page cannot keep. If the snippet promises a calculator and the URL is a blog rant, the click is wasted and the next rewrite will be harder. Count second; honesty first.
When to use it
- You are writing or rewriting a snippet.
- A plugin warned you were over 160 characters.
- You want characters-with-spaces, which is what most CMS counters show.
How to
- Paste the draft. Your current meta description.
- Read characters. Use the characters number, not words.
- Trim. Target ~150–160 as a working budget.
- Paste back into the CMS. Recheck after the CMS adds branding suffixes.
Features
- Live character count. Includes spaces.
- Local paste. Drafts of unreleased pages stay in the browser.
- No login. One field, one count.
Why it helps
- Fewer truncated snippets. You see the length before CMS publish.
- Faster edits. Cut from the end, keep the hook.
Use cases
- Ecommerce product metas. SKU pages with a hard CMS max.
- Docs sites. Every guide needs a unique snippet.
Examples
- Too long. A 240-character paragraph. Cut examples, keep the verb and the outcome.
Common mistakes
- Writing 400 characters because “Google will pick the best bit.” You lose control of the snippet.
- Counting only words. Truncation is characters (and pixels).
Tips
- Put the promise in the first 120 characters.
- Match the page. A clever snippet that lies will bounce.
FAQ
- Is 160 characters a Google rule?
- No. It is a working heuristic. Pixel width and device change what users see. Still, 150–160 is a sane draft target.
- Title tags?
- Titles are shorter (~50–60 characters). Use the same counter with a tighter budget.