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SEO
How long can the page title be for Google?
A page title works best when it's between 30 and 60 characters long. In this range, it stays fully visible in the Google results list, and uses up the available space. Google cuts off longer titles mid-word; shorter ones waste the opportunity to name the offering and company. Our check measures the length of every page title automatically.
Titles that are too long get cut off in the results list
A Google result's blue heading has a fixed width. If your title is longer, the display simply cuts off, ending in an ellipsis. "Huber Joinery — Custom furniture, kitchens, and built-in wardrobes in Graz and the surrounding area" then becomes something like "Huber Joinery — Custom furniture, kitchens, and buil…". The crucial location detail is missing, and the sentence looks unfinished. Anyone who keeps the title to 60 characters at most keeps control over what the searcher actually reads. The most important statement belongs at the start, since the start never gets cut off.
Titles that are too short waste the available space
A title like "Homepage", or just the company name, tells the searcher almost nothing. The space in the results list is free advertising real estate — using only ten characters when 60 would be visible leaves five-sixths of that space empty. A searcher compares several results within seconds and clicks the one that most clearly addresses their question. From about 30 characters, you can fit in the offering, the location, and the company name: "Tax advisory for doctors in Linz — Maier Chambers" uses the space and answers the search intent in one sentence.
How we check the title length
The SEO audit area counts the characters of every page title, and compares them against the target range of 30 to 60 characters. If a title falls below or above that, a note with the measured character count appears in the audit report — so you see exactly how much should be shortened or added. The deviation counts as a minor shortcoming, not a critical one: a title that's too long is better than none at all. If the title is missing entirely, the separate "page title present" check point reports that.
- Count the characters of your homepage title, with your word processor's character count, say.
- Shorten titles over 60 characters, and put the most important statement at the start.
- Extend titles under 30 characters with your offering and location — "Plumber in Wels — Emergency service and bathroom renovation", say.
- Check in Google Search whether your titles display in full, or end in an ellipsis.
- Cut greeting filler like "Welcome to the website of …" from the title — it uses up visible space without saying anything.
FAQ
How many characters can a page title have?
A range of 30 to 60 characters has proven to work well. Up to about 60 characters, Google usually shows the title in full; longer titles get cut off and end in an ellipsis. Under 30 characters, there's usually too little room to name the offering, location, and company name. Our check measures the length automatically per page.
What happens if the title is too long?
Google cuts off the display according to the available width, often mid-word. The searcher then sees only the start of your title and an ellipsis. If the crucial information sits at the end — the location or the offering, say — it gets lost. Shorten the title and put the key statement at the start.
Does the company name count toward the title length?
Yes, every character counts, including the company name and separators like the em dash. "Offering — Company name" is the common form, since the searcher wants to know first whether the page answers their question. For a very long company name, a commonly used short form may be used, so the title stays within the visible area.