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- E-mail subject line
How long should an e-mail subject line be?
There is no practical limit, but inboxes show only about 60 characters on a computer and often 30 to 40 on a phone. Aim for 30 to 50 characters with the key words first.
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Open the character counterE-mail subject line: the numbers
| Shown in full up to about | 60 characters |
|---|---|
| Best length | 30–50 characters |
| How it counts | Characters as you see them: an emoji or an accented letter is 1. Spaces and line breaks count. |
| English words that fit | 9–10 |
Last reviewed October 2026. Platforms change their limits; when it matters, check the platform’s help pages.
What counts as a character
- Every character counts, including spaces and emoji.
- Each email app decides how much to show, based on the screen and font.
Best length vs the maximum
- Front-load: the first few words must make sense on their own.
- Be specific: “Your March invoice” beats “Update”.
- Use the preheader for the rest of the message; see preheader length.
Questions and answers
Is there a maximum length for an email subject?
The email standard allows very long subject lines, so in practice no. What matters is how much the inbox shows.
How many characters of a subject line show on a phone?
Often 30 to 40, depending on the app and screen size.