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SERP Simulator
Type a page title and meta description to see how they look in a Google search result, on a computer or a phone. The tool measures them in pixels and shows where Google cuts them off.
Your Google result
example.com
https://example.com › blog › how-to-write-a-blog-post
How to Write a Blog Post People Actually Finish Reading ...
Learn how to write a blog post that answers the question first, uses headings readers can scan, and keeps sentences short. Steps, examples and a ...
Cut from the title on a computer: “(With Examples)”
Cut from the description on a computer: “checklist.”
Google does not publish its limits; we use about 600 pixels for titles and 990 for descriptions.
660 of 600 pixels on a computer. Too wide, so Google cuts the end.
992 of 990 pixels on a computer. Too long, so Google cuts the end.
How long should a title tag be?
Keep it under 60 characters and about 600 pixels wide. Google says there is no limit on the length of a title, but the title link is “truncated in Google Search results as needed”. Google does not say where, but on a computer about 600 pixels is the common estimate.
Put the search words near the start, so they survive if the end is cut. Our guide on how to write blog titles covers the rest, and the Title Case Converter sets the capitals.
How long should a meta description be?
Aim for 145 to 160 characters. Google’s guide to snippets says there is no limit on length, but the snippet is “truncated in Google Search results as needed, typically to fit the device width”. The tool cuts at about 990 pixels on a computer, which fits about 155 to 160 characters of normal text. Google does not publish this number either.
Phones show less. Most SEO guides put the phone cut at about 680 pixels, roughly 110 to 120 characters, so put the main point in the first sentence. Switch the preview to Phone to see where yours ends.
Google writes most snippets from the page itself. It uses your meta description when that describes the page better, so write it as a plain answer to the search: what the page covers and why it helps.
What the preview shows
- Site name and address: the two lines above the title. The address shows as a path, such as “example.com › blog › post”.
- Title: in Google’s blue, cut with dots at the width Google uses on a computer, or on a phone when you switch views.
- Description: cut the same way, with your search words in bold and an optional date in front.
To check the title and description of a post that is already live, along with its headings, links and readability, run it through the free Blog Grader.
Questions about the tool
Is this exactly what Google will show?
Close, not exact. Google does not publish its limits, and it sometimes writes its own title or snippet from the page. The preview shows what Google shows when it uses your title and description as written.
Why measure in pixels and not characters?
Google cuts by width. A title full of wide letters such as W and M runs out of room sooner than one full of i and l, so two 60-character titles can end in different places. The tool measures the real width in the font Google uses.
Does it show how the result looks on a phone?
Yes. Switch the preview to Phone. Phones give a title a little more room, about 650 pixels over two lines, but cut the description sooner, at about 680 pixels. Those are estimates from SEO guides, since Google does not publish them.
Why are some words bold?
Google bolds words in the snippet that match the search. Type the words people search for, and the preview bolds them the same way.
Does a date take space from my description?
Yes. When Google shows a date on a blog post, it comes first and uses part of the same line, so less of the description fits. Tick "Show a date" to see how much.
Is the SERP simulator free?
Yes. No account and no email. Nothing you type is sent or saved.
Want the title and description written for you?
Blog Hands writes researched posts in your voice for small businesses and agencies, every month, each with a title and meta description sized for Google. Your first post is free, with no card.