Shopify product descriptions have no hard character limit, but 150-400 words works best for SEO and conversions. Product titles are capped at 255 characters, though keeping them under 60 characters ensures full visibility in search results. Meta descriptions allow 320 characters, but 150-160 is recommended since Google truncates longer text. With 4.4+ million stores and 1.7+ billion shoppers on the platform, optimizing your Shopify product pages for search engines directly impacts your visibility and sales.

This guide covers Shopify character limits, description length by product type, and SEO optimization strategies for 2026.

Shopify Character Limits Quick Reference

Key Insight

Unlike Amazon or Etsy, Shopify does not impose strict character limits on most fields. This flexibility means your optimization should focus on SEO best practices and conversion optimization rather than hitting arbitrary limits.

Product Title Optimization (255 Characters Max)

Why 60 Characters Matters

Technical limit: 255 characters

SEO recommendation: Under 60 characters

Why the gap? Google displays approximately 50-60 characters in search results. Titles longer than 60 characters get truncated with an ellipsis, hiding important information from potential customers.

Title Structure Formula

Recommended format:

[Brand (optional)] [Product Name] [Key Attribute] [Variant]

Good examples:

• “Organic Cotton T-Shirt - Navy Blue, Men’s” (42 chars)
• “Handmade Leather Wallet - Slim Bifold” (37 chars)
• “Wireless Bluetooth Earbuds with Charging Case” (45 chars)

Avoid:

• “AMAZING Best Quality Premium Organic 100% Cotton Super Soft Comfortable T-Shirt Tee Shirt Men’s Unisex Navy Blue Color” (117 chars)

Title Best Practices

Do:

• Front-load the product name
• Include primary keyword naturally
• Add differentiating attributes (size, color, material)
• Use title case for readability

Don’t:

• Stuff keywords unnaturally
• Use ALL CAPS
• Include promotional text (“Sale!” “Free Shipping!”)
• Repeat words unnecessarily

Product Description Length by Product Type

Simple Products (150-200 Words)

Best for: Commodities, basic apparel, consumables

Example products: Plain t-shirts, candles, food items, basic accessories

What to include:

• Key features and benefits
• Material/ingredients
• Dimensions/sizing
• Basic care instructions

Why shorter works: Customers already understand these products. Excessive description adds friction without value.

Standard Products (200-300 Words)

Best for: Most retail products, home goods, electronics

Example products: Home decor, kitchen gadgets, skincare, footwear

What to include:

• Feature-benefit pairings
• Use cases and scenarios
• Technical specifications
• Comparison to alternatives (subtly)
• Social proof elements

Complex or Premium Products (300-400+ Words)

Best for: Technical products, luxury items, custom goods

Example products: Electronics, jewelry, custom furniture, specialty equipment

What to include:

• Detailed specifications
• Manufacturing/sourcing story
• Comparison charts
• Warranty and guarantee information
• Extensive FAQ content
• Installation or usage guides

When to Go Longer

Consider 400+ words when:

• Product price exceeds $200
• Product requires assembly or installation
• Product has technical specifications buyers compare
• Product is custom or personalized
• High return rate suggests confusion

Description Structure for SEO

Above the Fold (First 160 Characters)

Critical: The first 160 characters of your product description may appear in Google search snippets. Make them count.

Formula:

[Answer the main question] + [Key benefit] + [Call to action or differentiator]

Example: “This genuine leather messenger bag fits 15-inch laptops while maintaining a slim profile. Handcrafted from full-grain leather with brass hardware that develops rich patina over time.”

Full Description Structure

Recommended sections:

[Hook - first 160 chars for Google] (1-2 sentences)
[Key benefits - bullet points] (3-5 bullets)
[Features and specs - scannable format] (5-8 items)
[Story/context - brand connection] (1-2 paragraphs)
[Use cases - who it's for] (2-3 scenarios)
[Trust elements - warranty, materials, reviews] (1 paragraph)

Formatting for Scannability

Use:

• Short paragraphs (2-3 sentences max)
• Bullet points for features and benefits
• Bold text for key terms
• Headers to break up sections (if theme supports)
• White space between sections

Avoid:

• Walls of text
• Long, complex sentences
• Jargon without explanation
• Repeating information from elsewhere on page

Meta Description Optimization

Technical vs. Optimal Length

Meta Description Formula

Structure:

[Primary keyword] + [Key benefit] + [Differentiator] + [CTA]

Example (158 chars): “Shop our organic cotton t-shirts. Sustainably sourced, buttery-soft fabric in 12 colors. Free shipping on orders over $50. Find your perfect fit today.”

Writing Effective Meta Descriptions

Include:

• Primary keyword (naturally)
• Unique selling proposition
• Call to action (Shop now, Learn more, etc.)
• Price or value mention if competitive

Avoid:

• Duplicate meta descriptions across products
• Keyword stuffing
• ALL CAPS or excessive punctuation
• Exceeding 160 characters (truncation looks unprofessional)

Shopify Meta Description Settings

Where to set: Product page > Search engine listing preview > Description

Auto-generated: If left blank, Shopify pulls from product description. Always write custom meta descriptions for important products.

URL Handle Best Practices

Shopify URL Structure

Default format: yourdomain.com/products/product-handle

Technical limit: 255 characters

Recommended: 50-60 characters

URL Optimization Guidelines

Best practices:

• Keep handles short and descriptive
• Include primary keyword
• Use hyphens between words
• Avoid stop words (the, and, of, etc.)
• Never change URLs after indexing (use redirects)

Good examples:

• /products/organic-cotton-tshirt-navy
• /products/leather-messenger-bag-15inch
• /products/wireless-earbuds-pro

Bad examples:

• /products/amazing-best-quality-organic-100-cotton-tshirt-super-soft (too long)
• /products/product123 (not descriptive)
• /products/our_newest_item (underscores, not hyphens)

Alt Text for Product Images

Why Alt Text Matters

SEO benefit: Google Image search drives traffic Accessibility: Screen readers use alt text Fallback: Displays when images fail to load

Alt Text Limits

Writing Alt Text

Formula:

[Product name] + [Key visual detail] + [Context if relevant]

Good examples:

• “Navy blue organic cotton t-shirt on white background”
• “Leather messenger bag open showing laptop compartment”
• “Woman wearing wireless earbuds while jogging”

Avoid:

• “Image of…” or “Picture of…”
• Keyword stuffing
• Leaving alt text blank
• Using file names as alt text

Mobile Optimization Considerations

Mobile Commerce Statistics

Key facts:

• 79% of Shopify traffic comes from mobile devices
• Mobile shoppers scan rather than read
• Smaller screens mean tighter character budgets

Mobile-First Description Strategy

Above the fold on mobile:

• First 50-75 words must hook the reader
• Key benefits visible without scrolling
• Price and add-to-cart button always visible

Mobile formatting:

• Shorter paragraphs (1-2 sentences)
• More bullet points
• Larger tap targets for links
• Accordion/collapsible sections for long content

Testing Mobile Display

Check on mobile:

• Does the title truncate?
• Is the first sentence compelling?
• Can users find key information quickly?
• Are buttons and links easy to tap?

Common Shopify SEO Mistakes

Mistake 1: Duplicate Content

Problem: Using manufacturer descriptions across all products

Impact: Google may filter duplicate content from search results

Solution: Write unique descriptions for each product, even if products are similar. Focus on different use cases, benefits, or audiences.

Mistake 2: Missing Meta Descriptions

Problem: Leaving meta description blank, letting Shopify auto-generate

Impact: Generic snippets that don’t entice clicks

Solution: Write custom meta descriptions for at least your top 20% of products by revenue.

Mistake 3: Keyword Stuffing

Problem: Cramming keywords into every sentence

Impact: Poor readability, potential Google penalty, lower conversion rates

Solution: Use primary keyword in title, URL, and once or twice in description naturally.

Mistake 4: Ignoring Alt Text

Problem: Leaving product image alt text blank

Impact: Missing Google Image search traffic, accessibility issues

Solution: Add descriptive alt text to all product images.

Mistake 5: Too Short or Too Long

Problem: 50-word descriptions that provide no value OR 1,000-word essays that overwhelm

Impact: Higher bounce rates, lower conversion

Solution: Match description length to product complexity and price point.

Mistake 6: No Structured Data

Problem: Not using Shopify’s built-in schema markup

Impact: Missing rich snippets in search results (price, availability, reviews)

Solution: Use themes that support structured data, or add manually via apps.

Shopify SEO Apps and Tools

Built-In Shopify Features

What Shopify includes:

• Automatic sitemap generation
• Basic meta tag editing
• URL handle customization
• Alt text fields
• Canonical URL management

Recommended SEO Apps

For product optimization:

• SEO Manager (meta tags, JSON-LD, bulk editing)
• Smart SEO (auto-generate meta tags, fix broken links)
• Plug In SEO (site audit, keyword suggestions)

For content:

• Yoast SEO for Shopify (readability analysis, keyword optimization)

Checking Your SEO

Manual checks:

• Google Search Console (indexing issues)
• Mobile-Friendly Test (Google)
• PageSpeed Insights

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the maximum product description length on Shopify?

Shopify has no hard character limit for product descriptions. However, 150-400 words is recommended based on SEO research and conversion data. Match your length to product complexity.

Should I use the same description length for all products?

No. Simple products need 150-200 words. Standard retail items work well at 200-300 words. Complex or premium products benefit from 300-400+ words with detailed specifications.

Does Shopify have a product title character limit?

Yes, 255 characters. However, keep titles under 60 characters so they display fully in Google search results without truncation.

How long should my Shopify meta description be?

Write meta descriptions between 150-160 characters. Shopify allows up to 320 characters, but Google truncates anything over approximately 160 characters on desktop and 120 on mobile.

Do product descriptions affect Shopify SEO?

Yes, significantly. Google indexes your product descriptions, and well-written content with natural keyword usage helps products rank in search results. The first 160 characters are especially important as they may appear in Google snippets.

Should I include keywords in my product URL?

Yes. Include your primary keyword in the URL handle (the part after /products/). Keep URLs short and descriptive. Never change URLs after a product is indexed without setting up proper redirects.

Key Takeaways

• Product titles: 255 characters max, but keep under 60 for full Google display
• Product descriptions: No limit, but 150-400 words recommended based on product complexity
• Meta descriptions: 320 characters max, but 150-160 optimal (Google truncates longer)
• URL handles: Keep to 50-60 characters with primary keyword included
• Alt text: 512 characters max, 125 recommended for each product image
• Match description length to product price and complexity
• Always write custom meta descriptions for important products

Conclusion

Shopify’s flexible character limits give you room to optimize for both search engines and conversions. Focus on keeping product titles under 60 characters for full Google visibility, writing descriptions of 150-400 words based on product complexity, and crafting meta descriptions of 150-160 characters that compel clicks. With over 4.4 million stores competing for 1.7 billion shoppers, the merchants who master product page optimization gain significant competitive advantage. Try our free letter counter → to verify your Shopify titles and meta descriptions stay within optimal limits for maximum search visibility.