YouTube title character counter
Count your title the way YouTube counts it and see every limit at once, plus where the feed cuts your hook.
Table of contents
YouTube title character counter
Live counts for the description (5,000) and channel description (1,000), measured the way YouTube counts them. Everything runs in your browser; nothing you type is stored or sent anywhere.
How to use the YouTube character counter
- Pick the field
Choose what you are writing: description and channel description. Each field has its own YouTube limit. - Type or paste
The count updates on every keystroke, using YouTube's own counting rules for emoji and links. - Watch the limit bars
Each bar turns amber past 90% of the limit and red when you are over, with the exact number of characters to trim. - Check the hook
See the text that shows before YouTube cuts the title, on desktop and on mobile.
YouTube character limits in 2026
The title, the description and the channel description each have their own limit: 100, 5,000 and 1,000 characters. The full 100-character title is indexed for search, even the part viewers do not see.
| Field | Limit | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Video title | 100 | hard field limit; the full title is indexed |
| Description | 5,000 | keep the essentials up top |
| Channel description | 1,000 | - |
How YouTube counts characters
YouTube counts every character of the title, spaces and emoji included, against 100.
Where YouTube truncates your title
The title field takes 100 characters, and YouTube indexes all of them, but viewers rarely see the full title. Desktop search shows about 60 characters before truncation, the mobile home feed about 50, the Shorts shelf about 40, and search results and suggested videos often trim titles to around 70.
Write the hook and the main keyword into the first 40 to 50 characters so the title survives every surface, and use characters 61 to 100 for context that helps ranking. In the description, keep the essentials in the first ~157 characters that show on the watch page.
The same text on other networks
One draft gets a different number on every network, because each one counts differently. Here is how the YouTube limit compares.
| Network | Main limit | How it counts |
|---|---|---|
| TikTok | 2,200 (caption) | UTF-16 units; 4,000 in the app, 2,200 via API |
| 2,200 (caption) | every character, hashtags included; max 5 hashtags | |
| X | 280 (post) | weighted: links 23, emoji 2, CJK 2 |
Finish polishing before you publish
- YouTube Hook Generator
- YouTube Shorts Hook Generator
- YouTube Engagement Rate Calculator
- YouTube Best Time to Post
- YouTube Banner Maker
- All free YouTube tools
- YouTube growth
Your title is within every limit. Now get it seen.
A title that fits is ready to publish. Real likes, comments and subscribers in the first hours are what carry it further on YouTube.
Frequently asked questions
What is the YouTube title character limit?
100 characters. YouTube indexes all 100, even the part viewers do not see.
How many characters of a YouTube title are visible?
About 60 in desktop search, about 50 on the mobile home feed, about 40 on the Shorts shelf and around 70 in suggested videos.
What is the YouTube description limit?
5,000 characters, with about the first 157 visible on the watch page.
What is the ideal YouTube title length?
Write the hook and main keyword into the first 40 to 50 characters, then use the rest of the 100 for context.
Is my text uploaded anywhere?
No. The counter runs in your browser and nothing you type leaves the tab.
How many title characters show on YouTube?
About 60 in desktop search, 50 on the mobile home feed and 40 on the Shorts shelf, out of 100.
How many hashtags should a YouTube video have?
Up to 3 can show near the title, and more than 60 makes YouTube ignore all of them.