Title tag too long: how long it can be, and how Google rewrites it
Your SEO audit says a title tag is too long. Learn what Google really says about title length, how to measure yours, and the reasons Google rewrites titles, with before and after examples.
On this page
An audit that reports “title tag too long” is saying the title may be cut off in search results. The advice you will find almost everywhere is “keep it to 50 to 60 characters.” That is a useful rule of thumb, but it is not something Google states. This guide covers what Google does say, how to measure your own titles, and why a title can be rewritten even when its length is fine.
What Google says about title length
Google's documentation on title links says there is no limit on how long a title element can be. Titles are cut as needed, typically to fit the width of the device. Google also says it may generate a different title when yours does not describe the page well. So there is no official character count to hit. The 50 to 60 character figure and the common 600 pixel figure are estimates made by SEO tools, and neither comes with a published source.
What to aim for
A practical target is under 60 characters and under about 600 pixels, with the main keyword first. Words at the start are the ones always shown, and the end is what gets cut. Treat the number as a margin of safety rather than a rule, and measure instead of counting when a title is close.
Measure it yourself
Paste this into your browser console. It measures the title in an Arial-style font at the size results commonly use. It is a proxy for Google's own font, so keep a margin:
const title = "Your title tag here";
const ctx = document.createElement("canvas").getContext("2d");
ctx.font = "20px Arial";
console.log(Math.round(ctx.measureText(title).width) + " px");If the result is over about 600, shorten it. To see the titles you already have, view the page source and search for <title>, or run the audit below to list every page with a long title.
A real example from our own guides
Our first guide titles ran 65 to 75 characters once the site name was added, because we wrote a full-length headline and let the template add · Auditmatic to the end. The audit counted them as long. We fixed it by giving each guide two titles: a longer headline for the page itself, and a short search title of 38 to 41 characters. With the site name added, the tab title is now 51 to 54 characters, and the keyword comes first.
| Before | After |
|---|---|
| Meta description too long: how long it really can be, and how to measure it · Auditmatic | Meta description too long: how to measure · Auditmatic |
Why Google rewrites titles
Length is only one reason. Google's documentation lists situations where its systems tend to replace a title, including:
- A title that is half empty or only a site name.
- A title that no longer matches the page, such as an obsolete date.
- Boilerplate repeated across many pages.
- A title that is not in the page's language.
- The site name repeated more than once.
Google builds the replacement from other signals on the page, such as the main heading. If your title keeps being replaced, the fix is usually a clearer title and a matching H1, not a different length.
What to do with the site name
Google suggests the site name at the beginning or the end of the title. For most pages the end is better, because the first words should say what the page is about. Keep the name short and use one separator. On long titles, drop the site name before you drop a keyword.
How to shorten a title without losing the point
- Lead with the keyword. Put what the page is about in the first few words.
- Cut filler such as “Everything you need to know about”, “ultimate guide” and the year, unless the year matters.
- Keep one idea. If you need two, the page may need splitting.
- Make each title unique. Repeated titles are among the reasons for rewriting.
Set it in your template
Set titles from the template so every new page is covered. In Next.js use the metadata export with a title template. In WordPress, an SEO plugin such as Yoast gives each page a title field with a length meter.
export const metadata = {
title: { default: "Example", template: "%s · Example" },
};
// page: export const metadata = { title: "Title tag too long: how to fix" };What about titles that are too short?
An audit also flags titles that are too short. A title of one or two words, such as “Home”, gives search engines little to go on and is a common cause of rewriting. Say what the page is in a few specific words.
Where this fits
A long title is a small finding, like a long meta description. Fix both after any blockers in the technical SEO audit checklist, and use the SEO audit checklist to decide how much time such findings deserve.
Frequently asked questions
How many characters should a title tag be?
Aim for under 60 characters, with the main keyword first. Google gives no official number, so treat it as a safe margin.
Does a long title hurt rankings?
Not as a penalty. The risk is that the useful part is cut off or that Google replaces the title with its own.
Should the H1 match the title tag?
They can differ, but they should agree on the topic. A clear match gives Google less reason to rewrite your title.
Should I include my brand name?
Usually at the end, kept short. On a long title, drop it first.
Check your own titles
Run an audit and it lists every title that is too long, too short, missing or duplicated.