How Many Characters Does Google Read On a Title Tag?

Over 17,000, apparently. We added a made-up word after 17,000 characters to the title tag of this blog. Google has indexed and ranked us #1 for it…you can include as many characters as you want in your title tag. Just Google: Pseudosesquipedalianpneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis and see for yourself!

@on_par_digital_marketing The truth about title tags and Google… #seo #digitalmarketing #google ♬ nintendo wii (mii channel) song – julie on the internet

According to Google (Bard):

While Google doesn’t specify a strict character limit for title tags, it’s crucial to understand how they display in search results to optimize visibility and user experience. Here’s the key info:

Technical Limit: Measured in pixels, title tags technically have no character limit. However, most browsers typically display the first 50-60 characters.

Google Display Limit: On desktop, Google usually displays up to 600 pixels, roughly corresponding to 50-60 characters. On mobile, the length varies depending on the device, but it’s generally longer than desktop.

Best Practices: Aim for 50-60 characters to ensure your title displays fully on most devices and in desktop search results. This helps users understand your page’s content and may improve click-through rates.

Remember:

• Even if your title is longer, Google still reads and indexes those words for ranking purposes.
• Use concise and compelling language to grab attention and accurately represent your page.
• Consider different title lengths for mobile and desktop displays.

By following these guidelines, you can create effective title tags that optimize visibility and user experience within the dynamic display limits of Google search results.

From On Par Digital

Title tag length matters, kind of…you obviously want users to see the title tag you want them to see (Google does rewrite them, just like they do meta descriptions) so if you stick to the recommended length you’re more likely to have Google use what you wrote.

Best practice for title tags is always, and will always be, {target keyword | secondary keyword | brand name}.

If you have and questions on title tags or meta descriptions, feel free to reach out and we can help out!