Free SEO tool
SERP preview for Google results
Use this free SERP preview to see how your page title and meta description could look in Google on desktop and mobile. The preview updates as you type and warns you when text gets cut off.
Free, no account needed
What does a SERP preview show?
A SERP preview gives you an estimate of your search result before you publish it. Google shortens titles and descriptions to fit the width of the screen, not at a fixed number of characters, so this tool measures the width of your text in pixels. It warns when the title or description is likely to be cut off, or so short that space is left unused. Google can still rewrite titles and snippets, so treat the preview as a guide, not a promise.
What the SERP preview shows
You fill in four fields: page title, site name, meta description and page address. The tool draws a search result for desktop and one for mobile, with your site name, the address as a path, the title and the description. Everything runs in your browser, so nothing you type is sent to a server.
- A desktop and a mobile preview that update as you type
- The width of the title in pixels, compared with about 600 pixels on desktop
- The width of the description in pixels, compared with roughly two lines of text
- The number of characters in the title and the description
- Text that does not fit is cut off with an ellipsis, as in search results
How to read the result
Below the previews you get one card for the title and one for the description. Green means the text fits. Amber with too wide or too long means the end will probably be cut off, so move the important words to the front or shorten the text. Amber with short means there is room left: a title under 30 characters can usually carry your main keyword or brand, and a very short description makes it more likely that Google picks text from the page instead.
The widths are estimates. The tool measures your text in Arial at a fixed size, which comes close to a real result but is not Google's exact rendering, and Google adjusts its layout from time to time.
Common mistakes with titles and descriptions
Google's own guidelines point to the same handful of problems.
- Vague titles such as Home or Products that do not say what the page offers
- Repeating the same keyword several times in the title
- The same title or description on many pages
- A description that is just a list of keywords
- A long brand name or slogan at the start that pushes the real topic out of view
What to do next
Write a title that describes this specific page in a few words, and add your brand at the start or end, separated by a hyphen, colon or pipe. Write a description of one or two readable sentences that says what the visitor gets and why they should click.
When you are happy with the preview, copy the text into the SEO settings of your page. Then run the SEO check on the live page to confirm search engines can read the new title and description.
How to use the SERP preview
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Type your title
Enter the page title as you want it to appear in Google. The sample text shows the format.
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Add the description
Add the site name, the meta description and the address of the page.
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Check the previews
Look at the desktop and mobile previews and the two cards below them. Shorten or rephrase until both cards are green.
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Copy it to your page
Paste the final title and description into the SEO settings of your page and publish.
Questions about the SERP preview
How long should a title be?
Google has no fixed character limit: titles are cut off to fit the width of the device. That is why this tool measures pixels instead of characters. Wide letters such as W take more room than narrow ones such as i, so the character count alone is not a reliable guide.
How long should a meta description be?
Google has no fixed limit for descriptions either and shortens snippets to fit the screen. Aim for one or two sentences that fit about two lines in the preview, and put the most important information first.
Why does Google show a different title than mine?
Google creates title links automatically. It mainly uses your title element, but can also use the main heading, og:title, other prominent text or links pointing to the page. It is more likely to rewrite a title that is vague, outdated, repeated on many pages or does not match the page.
Why does Google show other text than my description?
Google builds snippets mainly from the content of the page and uses the meta description when it describes the page more accurately. A unique, readable description per page makes it more likely that Google shows yours.
Is what I type stored anywhere?
No. The preview is built in your browser and nothing you type is sent to SitePack.
Can I edit titles and descriptions in SitePack?
Yes. Every page and blog post has its own meta title and meta description in the editor, and the editor gives search engine and readability tips while you write.
Related tools and guides
- SEO check Check the title, description, headings and indexing rules of any page.
- Open Graph checker Preview how your page looks when shared on WhatsApp, LinkedIn, Facebook and X.
- SEO for online stores A practical guide to getting your webshop found in Google.
- Website builder Build a website where you control the title and description of every page, from €15 a month.
- Free tools
Titles and descriptions under control
In SitePack you set the title and description of every page in the editor and get SEO tips as you write. A website costs from €15 a month, billed yearly. Try it free for 14 days, no payment details needed.