Whether you are a newcomer or an experienced SEO manager in the middle of revamping meta-tags for your client, it’s always good to catch up on the newest Google best practice. Meta tags (meta title tag and meta descriptions) are some of the essential elements of on-page SEO. They directly affect your rankings on SERPs (search engine results page), click-through rate, conversions, and your brand’s positioning.

In this mini-guide, you’ll learn about the existing SEO meta description max length for mobile devices and desktops, as well as for different search engines.

What is SEO Meta Description

A meta description is an HTML element that consists of a brief recap of a web page. The page’s meta description tag is displayed as part of the search snippet in a search engine results page (SERP) and is meant to let the user sneak a look at the content within the page and how it matches their search query.

Space of Google Search Results

Google itself is in constant search of a perfect interface and user experience. Therefore, it has expanded opportunities for users and website owners. Thus, a search result page width was recently changed to 600 pixels, making it 100 pixels wider. It created an opportunity for users in 2022 to take a new look at assembling their meta descriptions.

“That is my overarching ambition: to give light to all the beauty and all the genius that is already in the music.”

SEO Meta Description Length

It is considered that on average (we talk about exceptions further in the text), a maximum length of an SEO meta description for Google is 158 characters. After some research, many experts recommend 120-150 characters as the ideal meta description length, not a character. So you’re gonna need to plan meta descriptions across your website, considering length, consistency and content.

On the other hand, other search engines such as Bing and Yahoo allow a slightly longer SEO meta description – up to 168 characters – for competition and UX/UI design approach. But since the user percentage of these search engines is significantly lower nowadays, especially in the North American market, we advise considering 158 characters as a maximum.

At the same time, the SEO meta description maximum length for mobile devices is 120 characters. However, practice shows that Google is broadening mobile opportunities and shows full meta descriptions. Yet, you should mind the possibility of it shortening.

Max Length in Pixels

You’ve probably thought, “that’s it,” and got back to your meta descriptions, but wait until you hear about max length in pixels. It is an important issue since different characters have different widths in pixels. It is essential, especially if using capital letters or all-caps style. In this case, your character maximum for this available amount can significantly decrease – to 140-145 on average. However, it is noted that in extreme cases, if you’re one word short or the last letters won’t fit, Google allows you to increase the length to 930 pixels.

Again, Bing and Yahoo allow meta description length to be at a max of 980 pixels (a result of an increased max length in character). When it comes to mobile, there’s a supposed limit of 680 pixels, but practice suggests some increase here.

So, first things first, look at max length in pixels rather than characters – this way, you won’t reach a character limit unless you have lots of special symbols and punctuation marks.

You also need to consider publication dates and other rich snippet elements, which will eat up the space.

Max Length with Spaces

Although you might think that spaces don’t count as characters, they are taken into account by Google when counting max length in pixels.

Google-Generated Meta Descriptions

In some cases, when top-quality websites with big authority get a little privilege – Google expands their displayed meta description up to 1500 pixels. It’s done for the sole reason of improving user experience and distinguishing the best search results. In most cases, Google chooses additional text from the main parts of your content. So even if you’ve got a good-quality website, you shouldn’t rely on that and write additional characters and keywords into the meta descriptions.

On the contrary, if your meta description is of poor quality, irrelevant or too big, Google can replace it with some content from your page.

Question-based Meta Descriptions

In addition, if applicable, Google also increases the meta description of the first three positions with question-based search queries and featured snippet results.