Guide

Meta description length: how many characters should you write?

A meta description should summarize the page clearly and fit common search preview space.

A meta description is a short summary that may appear under a page title in search results. Search engines can rewrite it, but writing a clear one still helps define the page and improve how it looks when shared or indexed.

Many descriptions work well around 140 to 160 characters, but there is no permanent exact limit. Search previews change by device, query, and layout. The goal is to make the important part visible early.

What to include

• The main topic of the page.
• The useful outcome for the reader.
• Specific words that match the page content.
• A natural reason to click, without hype.

Use the Character Counter to test your draft. If the summary is too long, remove empty phrases such as "in this article we will" and start with the actual value.

Example

Weak: "This page contains information about a tool that you can use online for different things related to text."

Better: "Count words, characters, sentences, and reading time with a free online word counter that runs in your browser."

The better version is specific, compact, and easy to understand.

Avoid misleading descriptions

Do not promise content the page does not provide. A misleading description may get a click, but the visitor will leave quickly. Good descriptions match the page honestly.

Write for humans first. The search snippet is a small invitation, not a place to stuff every keyword.