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How long should a meta description be?
Aim for about 120 to 155 characters, and stay under 160. Google cuts snippets by pixel width, and often writes its own snippet from the page when it thinks that matches the search better.
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Open the character counterMeta description: the numbers
| Shown in full up to about | 160 characters |
|---|---|
| Best length | 120–155 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 | 24–29 |
Last reviewed October 2026. Platforms change their limits; when it matters, check the platform’s help pages.
What counts as a character
- Google cuts by width in pixels; wide letters use the space faster.
- On phones the snippet area is a different size, so the cut-off moves.
Best length vs the maximum
- Say what the page gives the reader, in a sentence they would want to click.
- Use the main search phrase naturally: Google bolds words that match the search.
- Write a unique description for each page; duplicates are often ignored.
Questions and answers
What is the ideal meta description length?
About 120 to 155 characters.
Does Google always use my meta description?
No. It often shows a passage from the page instead, if that fits the search better.
Do meta descriptions affect rankings?
Google says they do not directly, but a good one can earn more clicks.