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Meta Description Too Long or Too Short: How to Fix It
Google shows about 150 to 160 characters of a meta description on desktop and less on mobile.
Quick fix: Aim for 70 to 160 characters. Shorter descriptions waste space, longer ones get cut off in search results.
Why it matters for SEO
Long descriptions get cut off mid-sentence, and short ones waste space that could convince searchers to click.
How to fix it
- 1Keep descriptions between 70 and 160 characters.
- 2Put the most important information and keyword first.
- 3Cut repeated words and long lists.
- 4Check the result in a SERP snippet preview.
Example
Too long (204 chars): Craftora is a free online tools suite: merge PDF, compress images, convert files, verify emails, run SEO audits, and more. Privacy-first, no signup, no watermarks, works on every device.
Better (148 chars): Free online tools to merge PDFs, compress images, convert files, verify emails, and audit SEO. No signup, no watermarks.Free tools to fix it
Frequently asked questions
Is there a penalty for long descriptions?
No penalty, but the end of the text is hidden, so put key details first.
Should mobile descriptions be shorter?
Mobile shows about 120 characters, so keep the core message within the first 120.
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