tigtools

Meta Tag Preview

Type a title, description and URL to see an example search result, with estimated pixel widths and truncation.

Runs in your browser No sign-up

Shown above the URL in many search results.

Device
Example search result
example.com
example.com
(no title)

(no description: a search engine would pick text from the page)

  • Title: 0 characters, about 0 of 600px
  • Description: 0 characters, about 0 of 920px
  • The title is missing. Every page should have a unique, descriptive title.
  • The meta description is missing. Search engines will choose a snippet from the page text.

This is an approximation. Search engines decide what to show, often rewrite titles and descriptions, and change their layout over time.

How to use it

  1. Enter the page title, the meta description and the page URL. Add the site name if you have one.
  2. Switch between desktop and mobile to see where text is likely to be cut off.
  3. Read the warnings and the pixel estimates, edit until the important words fit, then copy the HTML tags.

How it works

Search results cut titles and descriptions by width in pixels, not by a fixed number of characters: a title full of “W” and “M” runs out of room sooner than one with many “i” and “l”. This tool measures your text with the browser's canvas text measurement in an Arial-like font (20px for titles, 14px for descriptions) and compares it with typical widths: about 600px for a desktop title and about 920px across two lines for a desktop description, with a narrower, multi-line layout for mobile.

The limits are estimates, not rules. Search engines frequently rewrite titles and pick a different snippet from the page when they think it fits the query better, and their layouts change. There is no fixed length that guarantees your exact text appears. A good habit is to put the most important words first, so the meaning survives if the end is cut.

The preview is a generic design and does not reproduce any search engine's branding. Fonts on your device may differ slightly from the fonts a search engine uses, so treat widths within a few pixels of the limit as borderline.

Examples

A title that is too wide

“The Complete Beginner's Guide to Growing Tomatoes on Your Balcony in Small Pots” is about 80 characters and well over 600px on desktop, so the end would likely be cut. “Growing Tomatoes on a Balcony: Beginner's Guide” keeps the key words visible.

Description for a product page

A 150-character description that names the product, one concrete benefit and the delivery time usually fits on desktop; on mobile it may be cut a little earlier.

Checking a missing description

Leave the description empty to see the warning. Without one, a search engine chooses text from the page, which may be a menu or cookie notice.

Frequently asked questions

How long should a title tag be?

There is no official limit. Around 50–60 characters, or roughly 600px on desktop, usually avoids truncation. Longer titles are not penalised, but the end may not be shown.

How long should a meta description be?

Roughly 120–160 characters often displays in full on desktop. The description is not a ranking factor, but a clear one can encourage people to click.

Why does the search result show a different title or description than mine?

Search engines may rewrite them when the page text, headings or the query suggest something more relevant. Keeping the title accurate and matching the page's main heading makes rewrites less likely.

Why measure pixels instead of characters?

Results are cut where the text runs out of horizontal space. Wide letters and capitals take more room than narrow ones, so two titles with the same character count can be truncated at different points.

Privacy

Your title, description and URL stay in your browser. Nothing is sent or stored, and the preview does not load anything from the URL.