Title Pixel Width Checker
Google truncates titles by pixel width, not character count. Paste yours and see the exact rendered width, the truncation point, and a live SERP preview.
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Title Tag Guide
Why character counts lie about title truncation
Every SEO tool tells you titles should be 'under 60 characters.' That's a rough approximation — Google actually truncates by pixel width. A 55-character title full of Ws and Ms can get cut off; a 70-character title with lots of i and l and t can render cleanly. We measure what Google measures.
How Google renders titles
On desktop, titles render in roughly 20px bold Arial. Narrow letters (i, l, t) take 4–6px each; wide letters (W, M) take 16–18px. We render your title to a canvas and measure the actual rendered width.
The 580px rule
Google's desktop SERP gives titles about 580px of space before truncating with '…'. Stay under that to avoid ugly cutoffs. We warn you as you approach the limit (around 540px).
Why this matters for CTR
A truncated title loses its payoff word — often the verb or the benefit. "The Ultimate Guide to Finding Keyword…" removes the word users care about. A title that fits pulls 10–20% more clicks.
Google can rewrite your title
Even if your title fits, Google sometimes rewrites it when it thinks yours doesn't match intent. A well-measured, scannable title that exactly targets the query reduces the chance of a rewrite.
Brand placement
If your brand name goes at the end of the title (e.g., "Article Title | Brand"), put the most important keywords first so they survive truncation. Truncated brands are visually uncomfortable but rarely fatal.
Mobile renders differently
Mobile SERPs give titles more visual weight and truncate earlier in terms of characters. If mobile traffic dominates, aim for titles under 540px — they'll look cleanest across both.
Pro Tips
Put the target keyword in the first 5–7 words. If truncation hits, the money words survive.
Capital letters render wider in Arial — the same message in uppercase uses roughly 30% more pixel space. Use caps for brand or single-word emphasis only.
Pipes (|) render narrower than em dashes (—) and make brand separation cleaner. Compare 'Title | Brand' vs 'Title — Brand' in the preview above.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Does Google use exactly Arial 20px?
- Close enough — Google uses a variation of Roboto/Arial at approximately 20px weight 400. Our canvas measurement is within 1–2% of Google's actual render, which is well within the margin of safety.
- Why does my title fit but still get rewritten?
- Fit isn't the only factor — Google also rewrites titles when they think yours is clickbait, poorly matches intent, or differs from the H1. A well-sized title reduces rewrites but doesn't eliminate them.
- What about mobile title truncation?
- Mobile is stricter because of smaller screens. If 90%+ of your traffic is mobile, target the lower end of our 'safe' zone — around 500px — for cleanest cross-device rendering.
- Should I always hit the limit?
- No. Shorter titles often win because they look more scannable. If you can say it clearly in 400px, don't pad it out to 580px with filler words.