Title tag is too long — the fix
The title tag exceeds 60 characters. Google typically truncates titles longer than ~60 characters (approximately 580 pixels) in search results, replacing the end with an ellipsis.
Where this fits: metadata in SEO
Metadata is how your page introduces itself to search engines and social platforms: the title tag, meta description, canonical URL, Open Graph and Twitter cards. Titles remain one of the strongest on-page relevance signals, and descriptions drive click-through rate from the results page even though they aren't a direct ranking factor. Bad metadata rarely breaks a site — it quietly bleeds clicks on every query where you appear.
Why title tag is too long hurts your rankings
Truncated titles hide important information and can reduce click-through rates. Users may not understand what the page is about if the meaningful part of the title is cut off. While excessively long titles don't directly hurt rankings, they represent a missed opportunity for clear communication in SERPs.
This is a low-severity issue: a polish item. Fix it in batches during scheduled maintenance; the win is cumulative quality, not a step change.
How to fix it
Shorten the title tag to under 60 characters while keeping the primary keyword and the most important information. Move brand names to the end so they are the part truncated if necessary. Use a SERP preview tool to check how the title will appear.
<!-- Before (72 chars) -->
<title>The Complete and Comprehensive Guide to Understanding SEO for Beginners | BrandName</title>
<!-- After (52 chars) -->
<title>SEO for Beginners: Complete Guide | BrandName</title>Metadata best practices
- Write one unique title per page, 50–60 characters, primary topic first, brand last.
- Write meta descriptions as ad copy: 140–155 characters, include the query intent, end with a reason to click.
- Ship Open Graph + Twitter Card tags on every shareable page — social embeds are free impressions.
- Keep canonical URLs absolute, lowercase, and consistent with your internal links.
- Never duplicate titles across pages — duplicates tell Google the pages are interchangeable.
The full library: SEO best practices, by category.
Frequently asked questions
What does "Title tag is too long" mean?
The title tag exceeds 60 characters. Google typically truncates titles longer than ~60 characters (approximately 580 pixels) in search results, replacing the end with an ellipsis.
Why does title tag is too long matter for SEO?
Truncated titles hide important information and can reduce click-through rates. Users may not understand what the page is about if the meaningful part of the title is cut off. While excessively long titles don't directly hurt rankings, they represent a missed opportunity for clear communication in SERPs.
How do I fix title tag is too long?
Shorten the title tag to under 60 characters while keeping the primary keyword and the most important information. Move brand names to the end so they are the part truncated if necessary. Use a SERP preview tool to check how the title will appear.
How serious is this issue?
This is a low-severity issue: a polish item. Fix it in batches during scheduled maintenance; the win is cumulative quality, not a step change. It belongs to the metadata family of checks.
How do I find every page affected by this on my site?
Run a free Dr Urls audit: it crawls your site, detects title tag is too long on every affected page, shows example URLs, and generates a ready-to-use fix task. Re-scan after fixing to verify the issue is gone.
Does your site have this issue?
A free Dr Urls audit crawls your site, finds every page affected by title tag is too long, and hands you a ready-made fix task.
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