Free Meta Description Checker

Check a meta description before you publish: length in characters and pixels, keyword presence, readability, and the details that get descriptions rewritten.

Runs entirely in your browser — nothing is uploaded

Meta description

0 characters — aim for 140 to 158

Target keyword

Title (for the preview)

URL

Worth knowing: the meta description is not a ranking factor and has not been one for many years. Google also rewrites it for a large share of results, pulling text from the page when it judges that a better answer to the query. Writing a good one is still worth it — when Google does use it, it decides whether anyone clicks.

What this tool does not do: Google rewrites meta descriptions for a large share of results. A good one improves your odds of it being used; nothing guarantees it.

How to use this tool

Paste your meta description.
Add the target keyword to see whether it appears where it will be bolded.
Adjust until the gauge is green on both desktop and mobile.

What is Meta Description Checker?

The meta description has not been a ranking factor for many years. It still matters because it is the sales copy under your title: when Google uses it, it is what decides whether someone clicks you or the result below you.

Terms matching the query get bolded in the snippet, which draws the eye. That is the real reason to include your keyword — not because it helps you rank, but because bold text catches attention in a page of grey.

Best practices

Aim for 140 to 158 characters; write the important part first.
Include the target term naturally so it gets bolded.
Tell the reader what they get, or ask the question they typed.
Avoid double quotes — Google sometimes truncates the snippet at them.
Write a unique description per page; duplicated ones get rewritten.

Frequently asked questions

Is the meta description a ranking factor?

No, and it has not been for a long time. Google confirmed this repeatedly. It affects click-through rate, which is a different and still worthwhile thing.

Why does Google ignore mine?

Usually because it judges text from the page a better answer to the specific query. Descriptions that are duplicated, keyword-stuffed, or too vague get replaced most often.

Should I write one for every page?

For pages that matter, yes. On a site with thousands of pages, a good template beats a bad hand-written one — and leaving it blank so Google picks the text is better than duplicating the same description everywhere.