Meta description length in 2026: pixels and characters
Measured 2026-07-06. Free to check, nothing uploaded.
How long should a meta description be in 2026? Keep it under about 920 pixels on desktop, roughly two lines and 150 to 160 characters, and near 680 pixels on mobile. Google truncates on rendered width, prepends a date on many results that eats into the budget, and often rewrites the description from page content when it judges that a better match for the query.
Check your description's pixel width
The measured 2026 description budgets
These are the pixel budgets realserp measures against, shared with the simulator and the meta description checker. Line counts are approximate and character equivalents are a rough guide.
| Device | Pixel budget | ≈ Characters | ≈ Lines |
|---|---|---|---|
| Desktop | 920px | 150–160 | 2 |
| Mobile | 680px | 110–130 | 3 |
Why the desktop budget looks bigger than one line
The desktop description budget is best read as the total width of the snippet across its wrapped lines, not a single line. Google shows about two lines on desktop, so the roughly 920-pixel budget spreads across both. The SERP pixel widths reference explains the render font and how the numbers were measured.
How to fit a description without losing the answer
- Lead with the answer. Put the query's answer in the first 100 characters so the useful part survives on mobile, where the budget is smallest.
- Measure the pixel width. Paste the description into the meta description checker and read its width for desktop and mobile, not just its character count.
- Account for a date prefix. If the page shows a date in results, turn the date prefix on in the checker to see the shorter visible snippet, and trim accordingly.
- Match the query, not just the length. A description Google keeps is one that matches search intent. Write for the query first, then trim to fit the budget.
Fitting is not the whole job
Google rewrites descriptions more often than titles, usually because a passage on the page answers the query better than the written meta. A fitted, query-relevant description gives you the best chance of being kept. Preview how it renders next to the title and favicon in the SERP simulator.
Common questions
How long should a meta description be in 2026?
Keep it under about 920 pixels on desktop, roughly two lines and 150 to 160 characters, and near 680 pixels on mobile. Google truncates on rendered width, so the pixel measurement is more reliable than a character count.
How many lines does Google show?
About two lines on desktop and up to three or four on mobile, though this varies. The desktop budget is best read as the total width of the snippet across its wrapped lines rather than a single line.
Why did Google change my meta description?
Google often builds the snippet from page content that better matches the query than your written description. Writing a clear, query-relevant description improves the odds yours is used, but Google has the final say.
Does the date shown before a snippet count?
Yes. When Google prepends a date, such as a publish or update date, the date and its separator take pixels from the visible description. Budget for a shorter visible snippet on results that show a date.