Low impactMeta tags
Meta Description Too Long
Meta descriptions over 160 characters get truncated in search results. Here's how to shorten them without losing the message.
What it means
Google truncates meta descriptions at roughly 160 characters on desktop and 120 on mobile. Anything past gets clipped with an ellipsis — often mid-sentence.
Why it matters
A truncated description loses the call-to-action and looks unprofessional. Users skip it; CTR drops.
How to fix it
- Find pages flagged with descriptions over 160 characters.
- Cut filler words: "world-leading", "comprehensive", "cutting-edge".
- Lead with the benefit, end with a CTA.
- Verify the rewrite is between 120–158 characters.
Example
Before
<meta name="description" content="We are a comprehensive, world-leading SEO platform providing the most advanced search engine optimization tools and services to businesses worldwide since 2010 across all industries." />After
<meta name="description" content="Run free SEO audits, track AI visibility, and auto-fix WordPress issues in one click. Trusted by 10k+ teams." />Find this issue on your site automatically
FreeSEO scans for meta description too long and 140+ other issues, free, no signup.
Frequently asked questions
What's the exact character limit?
There's no hard limit, but 160 is the safe ceiling. Mobile snippets cap closer to 120.
Does Google ever show longer descriptions?
Rarely, on featured-snippet pages. Don't plan around it.
Related issues
Missing Meta Description
What a missing meta description means for SEO, why it lowers click-through rate, and how to fix it on any platform in under 2 minutes.
Meta Description Too Short
Descriptions under 50 characters tell Google you didn't write one on purpose. Here's how to expand without padding.
Duplicate Meta Descriptions
Multiple pages sharing the same meta description signal thin or templated content. Here's how to detect and fix duplicates.