SERP Preview Tool

How Google decides where to cut your title

Google doesn’t cut titles and descriptions after a fixed number of characters — it cuts by pixel width. On desktop, titles are shown in 20 px Arial in a column about 600 px wide, and descriptions in 14 px Arial, usually up to about 920 px (two lines). This preview measures your text in the same font with your browser’s canvas, so wide letters like “W” and “M” count for more than narrow ones like “i” and “l”.

That’s why character counts are only a rough guide. Thirty capital W’s measure about 566 px — almost the whole line — while sixty lowercase l’s measure only about 267 px. The sample title above, “Best Running Shoes for Flat Feet in 2026: 12 Pairs Tested by Runners”, is 68 characters and about 624 px wide, so on desktop Google would end it at “…Tested by …”. When text is too wide, Google cuts at a word boundary and adds an ellipsis, which is what the desktop preview shows; the bars under each field show how much of the space you’ve used.

Why does Google show a different title than mine?

Google rewrites titles when it thinks they don’t describe the page well — for example when they are stuffed with keywords, very long, identical across pages, or don’t match the page’s main heading. Keep the title accurate, unique and close to your H1, and Google is far more likely to use it as written.

Should I fill every pixel?

No. A clear, specific title that fits is better than one padded to the limit. Put the words people search for first, then a reason to click (a number, a year, “tested”, “free”), and your brand last if there is room.

Frequently asked questions

How many characters is 600 pixels?

Usually 50–60 characters in normal mixed-case text. It can be as few as 30 characters in capitals or more than 70 with many narrow letters, which is why measuring pixels is more reliable.

Does Google show the meta description I write?

Often, but not always. For many searches Google builds the snippet from text on the page that better matches the query. A good description still raises the chance it is used.

Is the mobile limit different?

Yes. Mobile results wrap the title onto a second line and show more snippet lines, so a little more text fits. Writing for the desktop width keeps you safe on both.

Why is my favicon or site name not shown?

Google picks the site name from your home page (title, WebSite structured data and how others refer to you) and the favicon from your home page’s icon link. Both can take weeks to update after you change them.