# SERP preview: title and meta length checker

> See how your title and meta description show in Google on desktop and phones, measured in pixels, and where they get cut off. Free, no sign-up.

Canonical: https://productsfarm.com/tools/serp-preview

See how a page title and meta description show in Google, and where they get cut off. Free, no sign-up. Use it at [SERP preview](https://productsfarm.com/tools/serp-preview).

## How it works

1. Type a title, a meta description and the page's address, or load them from the live page.
2. We measure each line in pixels at Google's font sizes and cut it where Google would: about 600 pixels for a desktop title and 920 for a desktop description. Phones fit a little more title and less description.
3. Fix what the checks flag, then copy the title and meta description tags into your page's head.

## Questions

### How long should a title tag be?

Short enough to fit about 600 pixels on desktop, which is usually 50 to 60 characters. Put the words that matter first, so a cut title still says what the page is.

### How long should a meta description be?

About 920 pixels on desktop, usually 150 to 160 characters, and about 120 characters on phones. Google cuts longer ones with "...". Put the main point in the first 120 characters so it shows everywhere.

### Why does Google change my title or description?

Google writes each result for the search, so it may swap in a heading or text from the page. It does this most when a title or description is missing, too long, stuffed with keywords, the same on many pages or doesn't match the page. A specific title and description that match the page get changed less.

### Why pixels and not characters?

Google cuts by width on the screen, and letters differ in width: in Arial, a "W" is about four times as wide as an "i". Two titles with the same number of characters can fit or get cut. This tool measures each line in Arial at Google's sizes, 20px for titles and 14px for descriptions.

### Does the meta description affect rankings?

No. Google has said the meta description isn't used for ranking. It shapes whether people click your result, so write it for the reader: what the page offers and why it fits their search.

### Is it free?

Yes, and you don't need an account. The preview runs in your browser as you type. Loading from a page goes through our server, so each visitor can load a limited number of pages an hour.

## Related

- [Free tools](https://productsfarm.com/tools)