You’ve crafted what you think is the perfect SEO title. It’s got your keywords, it’s compelling, and it follows all the best practices. But when you search for it on Google, your title gets cut off with an awkward “…”.
Sound familiar?
Here’s the thing: Google doesn’t count characters when displaying titles – it counts pixels. And that makes all the difference between a title that converts and one that falls flat.
Why Pixel Length Beats Character Count Every Time
You might be wondering: “Why does pixel length matter if I’m staying under 60 characters?” Here’s the simple answer:
- Not all characters are created equal
- “WWW” takes up more space than “iii”
- Google’s display width is about 600 pixels
- Most titles get cut off between 50-65 characters
Real world example:
“Best Digital Marketing Strategies 2024” (47 chars) might show fully
“Best Digital Marketing Strategies for Small Businesses in 2024” (58 chars) might get cut off
How Google Actually Displays Your Titles
Google’s display works like this:
- Renders your title in their font (Roboto)
- Measures the pixel width
- Cuts off anything beyond ~600 pixels
- Adds “…” to truncated titles
The tricky part? There’s no fixed character limit because:
- Uppercase letters are wider
- “W” is wider than “i”
- Numbers and symbols vary in width
The Hidden Costs of Truncated Titles
When your title gets cut off:
✔️ You lose important keywords
✔️ Your message becomes unclear
✔️ Click-through rates can drop by 30% or more
✔️ You might accidentally create misleading snippets
Case study:
A client’s original title:
“Comprehensive Guide to Local SEO Strategies for Small Business Owners in 2025” (got cut off)
After optimizing for pixel length:
“Local SEO Strategies That Work for Small Businesses (2025 Guide)”
Result: 22% higher CTR in 3 weeks
How to Check Your SEO Title Pixel Length
Here’s a simple trick to test your titles before publishing:
- Write your title in a text editor using Roboto font (Google’s standard)
- Set the font size to 16px (Google’s mobile display size)
- Measure the pixel width
Or… you can save time with this free SEO Title Pixel Checker, which does all this instantly.
5 Pro Tips for Pixel-Perfect Titles
- Front-load your keywords
Place important words in the first 40 pixels (about 30-35 characters)
- Watch your Ws and Ms
Words with wide letters (M, W) eat up pixel space faster
- Mobile matters most
Always check how your title looks on mobile (where most searches happen)
- Numbers are your friends
“5 Ways to…” often fits better than “Five Ways to…”
- Test multiple variations
Sometimes a simple rephrase makes all the difference
Common Mistakes to Avoid
❌ Assuming 60 characters is always safe
❌ Forgetting to check mobile display
❌ Using all caps for emphasis (wastes pixel space)
❌ Overstuffing keywords at the expense of readability
As Google’s Search Central guidelines note, titles should be descriptive and concise. Pixel-perfect titles help achieve both.
Putting It All Together
Remember:
✔ Google displays titles by pixel width, not character count
✔ Truncated titles hurt your CTR and rankings
✔ Small tweaks can make big differences
✔ Always test before publishing
Want to see how your current titles measure up? Try our free SEO Title Pixel Checker – it takes seconds and could boost your click-through rates immediately.
FAQ
Q: How often should I check my title pixel length?
A: For every new title, and when refreshing old content.
Q: Do spaces count in pixel width?
A: Yes! Spaces take up about 4 pixels each.
Q: Where can I learn more about title best practices?
A: Moz has an excellent guide to title tags with more advanced tips.
Got a tricky title you’re not sure about? Test it with our tool and see exactly how it will appear!