SERP preview tool

What it shows

This tool lets you see a search result take shape while you write it. Fill in the title, meta description and URL and you get:

• Separate result previews for desktop and mobile
• Character count and approximate pixel width for the title and description
• The truncation point when text is too long, and a warning when it's too short
• How the URL is displayed in results, including the domain and breadcrumb-style path

Everything is calculated in your browser; nothing you type is saved on the server.

Why pixels, not characters

Google's documentation on title links states there's no limit on how long a title element can be, but the title shown in results is truncated as needed, typically to fit the device width. The same applies to the meta description snippet. Since truncation is about the width that fits on screen, rules like "60 characters" are only rough estimates: wide letters such as W and M take up far more room than narrow ones such as i and l, and uppercase text runs wider than lowercase. That's why the tool shows both character and pixel length; pixels are the better indicator of truncation risk.

How to use it

1. Enter the current or planned title for the page.
2. Add the meta description. If you leave it empty, Google will generate its own snippet from the page content, which the preview can't predict.
3. Enter the page URL and check how it will be displayed.
4. Switch between the desktop and mobile tabs. The line width differs on mobile, so the truncation point can move.
5. Shorten any field that triggers a warning, or move the most important information to the front.

What to look for in the preview

Lead with what matters. If the title is cut off, whatever sits at the end, often the brand name or a secondary phrase, disappears. Answering the searcher's need in the first few words limits the damage.

Make every title and description distinct. Google's guidance recommends that pages on a site use titles that distinguish them from each other. A template description repeated across hundreds of pages tells both users and Google very little.

Avoid keyword stuffing. Repeating the same term several times wastes space in the preview and can make it more likely that Google rewrites the title.

Treat the description as a pitch. Say clearly what the visitor will find: concrete details such as scope, number of steps, price range or how recent the information is make the decision to click easier.

To find pages that earn impressions but few clicks, start with the keyword opportunity finder, then try new title drafts here.

Limitations

• The preview is an approximation. Google adjusts fonts, layouts and truncation widths from time to time, so the real result may differ by a few pixels.
• Google isn't obliged to use your title or description and may show different text from the page depending on the query.
• Star ratings, prices, dates, site names, favicons and other rich result elements depend on your structured data and on Google's decisions; this tool doesn't simulate them.
• To see missing, overly long or duplicate titles across your whole site at once, rather than one page at a time, look at the weekly crawl in the SEO site audit.