NatWest Accelerator Events Free one-day marketing seminar at the NatWest Accelerator, Milton Keynes · 10 November 2026 Free marketing seminar · NatWest Accelerator, Milton Keynes · 10 Nov 2026 Free seminar · 10 Nov 2026
NatWest Accelerator, MK
Get your free invite →Invite →

Home › Blog › Google Ads

Google Ads

What Is Google Ads Search Ads Character Limit?

What Is Google Ads Search Ads Character Limit?
Read the video transcript

I've got a question for you Uzair, and that is how many characters are actually allowed in Google Ads? Because that seems to cause confusion for the people that we talk to. Yeah. So, you're referring to the search ads. Right? So, when you go to Google and you see an ad, it will comprise of up to three headlines and two description lines.

Google may not show you all the three headlines and the two descriptions all the time. It may show you two headlines and one description or two descriptions and so on. Headlines cannot be more than 30 characters long. 30 is the maximum. If it's 31, your ads will get. Well, you won't be able to save it. You'll get an error when you try to upload.

And the description needs to be not more than 90 characters as the maximum. So, you need to use these characters' character count, where wisely, you don't want to waste too many. And repeat yourself on this. It's very limited space and you need to cram in a lot of information which will highlight your product or service and also get that person looking for that on that ad to see, oh, this looks really good.

I want to see what this is all about. So, you attract that click as well. So, use these. Character counts very wisely. Don't repeat yourself. And the things which you want to put in on these ads are things like your keyword especially. First of all, strong call to action. What is the benefit of your product or service, features, or any social proof?

So, there are lots of things, but trust me, you can put all these in if you start using those character counts very wisely. Yeah, thanks for that, Uzair. Because you're right. You and I both know how much time we spend looking at those. Really tight, especially on the headlines, 30 characters. You have to be really creative because you're trying to do creative.

Creative is the right word. And nowadays you can also use apps like ChatGPT to help you. You don't need to be a copywriter. You can go there, get some ideas, and then rewrite what you have been given into a really creative ad. Yeah, true. Because if you're trying to do it as a business owner, you get, you're too close to it and you can only think and write the way that you think and write.

So, getting that extra boost of help is a great way to just think outside the box sometimes, isn't it? Yeah. Thank you for that.

Are you baffled by the character limits in Google Ads? You’re not alone. Let’s break it down into simple terms.

Google Ads Responsive Search Ads

First off, we’re talking about search ads here. You know, those little snippets of information that pop up when you search for something on Google? Yep, those are the ones. They typically consist of up to three headlines and two description lines.

Free NatWest Accelerator event

Get Found, Get Chosen, Get Your Time Back

A free one-day marketing seminar in Milton Keynes · 10 November 2026

Get your free invite →

Now, let’s get to the nitty-gritty. Headlines can’t exceed 30 characters. Not 31, not 32 – exactly 30. Go over that limit, and your ad won’t even see the light of day. It’s like trying to fit a square peg into a round hole – it just won’t work.

Get your free Marketing Action PlanNot sure where to start? Answer a few questions and get your plan in about a minute. No email needed.

Get my plan →

As for descriptions, they have a maximum limit of 90 characters. Again, no room for wiggle here. So, every character counts.

But why are these limits so strict, you ask? Well, think about it. You’re trying to grab someone’s attention in a sea of information. You’ve got to make every word count. No fluff, no filler – just straight to the point.

Uzair KharawalaLIVE
Free weekly YouTube live

Live every Tuesday at 2pm UK. Bring your marketing questions.

Get your Google, local SEO and AI questions answered live.

Join for free

So, what should you include in your ads? Think of it as a mini sales pitch. Start with a strong call to action – something that urges the viewer to take action. Then, highlight the benefits of your product or service. What makes it stand out? Why should they choose you?

Don’t forget about your keywords. These are the words that people are searching for, so make sure they’re front and center. And if you’ve got any social proof – like testimonials or awards – sprinkle those in too.

Now, I know what you’re thinking. Thirty characters for a headline? Ninety characters for a description? That’s not a lot to work with. And you’re right. It’s a challenge. But hey, that’s where creativity comes in.

Don’t be afraid to think outside the box. Get creative with your wording. And if you’re stuck, there are tools out there – like ChatGPT – that can help spark some inspiration.

Remember, the goal is to make your ad stand out from the crowd. So, use those character limits wisely. Be concise, be compelling, and most importantly, be creative.

And there you have it – the lowdown on Google Ads character limits. Now go forth and create some killer ads!

Uzair Kharawala

Written by Uzair Kharawala

Partner at SF Digital Studios, a Google Premier Partner agency. Uzair has been helping businesses grow with Google Ads since 2002 and teaches it every week on YouTube.

Book A Call →Subscribe on YouTube for new videos every weekday →
Free every week

Get our best Google Ads tips by email

New articles and videos, straight to your inbox. Unsubscribe any time.

We respect your privacy at all times. Privacy Policy

You may also like

Read the blog →

Your next customers are out there. Let's go and get them.

Tell us where you want your business to be, and we'll show you how to get there.

Book A Call →or get your free Google Health Check →
Happy clients

Don't take our word for it

4.9 from 157 Google reviews, plus case studies and client videos.

See our happy clients →
"It has now been 3 months since we started and our sales have increased 300%."
Ruhi Latif Rafplay, Dubai
"Uzair and Farzana are two of the most honest, sincere and trustworthy people you will ever meet."
Gavin Morgan GDM Jewellery · Google review
"If I needed a campaign built, this is one of the rare few people IN THE WORLD I would trust to do it properly."
Hemmel Amrania Google Ads professional · Google review
Book A Call →
Chat with us on WhatsApp