YouTube video titles allow 100 characters but truncate around 70 in search results, descriptions accept up to 5,000 characters with the first 125-157 visible in snippets, and tags have a total limit of 500 characters. Understanding where truncation happens—and what viewers actually see—is essential for optimizing your content for both clicks and search discovery.

This comprehensive guide covers all YouTube text limits with SEO-focused optimization strategies.

YouTube Character Limits Overview

Title Optimization (100 Characters)

Title Character Limits

Maximum: 100 characters Search display: ~70 characters before truncation Mobile display: May be even shorter

Where Truncation Happens

Search results: ~70 characters visible Suggested videos: ~50-60 characters Browse/home: Varies by device

Strategy: Put crucial information in first 50-60 characters.

Optimal Title Structure

Front-load keywords:

[Primary Keyword] - [Supporting Info] | [Brand]

Example: “How to Edit Videos in Premiere Pro - Beginner Tutorial 2026 | CreatorTips”

Breakdown:

• “How to Edit Videos in Premiere Pro” (38 chars) - keyword phrase
• “Beginner Tutorial 2026” (22 chars) - context
• “CreatorTips” (11 chars) - brand (may truncate)

Title Best Practices

Do:

• Include primary keyword in first 50 characters
• Use numbers when relevant (“5 Tips,” “2026”)
• Add urgency or curiosity (without clickbait)
• Keep titles 50-70 characters for full visibility

Don’t:

• Keyword stuff
• Mislead viewers (hurts retention metrics)
• Use ALL CAPS excessively
• Put brand name first (unless very established)

Description Optimization (5,000 Characters)

Description Character Limits

Maximum: 5,000 characters Search snippet: First 125-157 characters visible Expanded view: Full description visible

The Critical First 157 Characters

What shows in search:

• First 125-157 characters appear in snippet
• This is your pitch to get clicks
• Include primary keyword and value proposition

Example strong opening: “Learn video editing in Premiere Pro from scratch. This beginner tutorial covers importing, cutting, effects, and exporting in under 30 minutes. Perfect for…”

Description Structure

Recommended format:

[125-157 chars: Keyword-rich summary/hook]

[Expanded summary: 200-400 chars]

[Timestamps]
00:00 - Introduction
02:30 - Section 1
05:45 - Section 2
[etc.]

[Resources/Links]
📌 Download the project files: [link]
🔗 Related video: [link]

[About section: 200-300 chars]
[Hashtags: #keyword1 #keyword2 #keyword3]

[Social links]

Timestamps

Benefits:

• Improve user experience
• Enable chapter navigation
• Can appear in search results
• Increase watch time through navigation

Format:

00:00 - Title
MM:SS - Section title

Requirement: Must start with 00:00

Hashtags in Descriptions

Maximum: 15 hashtags per video Displayed above title: First 3 hashtags appear above the video title Placement: Usually at the end of description Recommendation: Use 3-5 relevant hashtags

Note: Hashtags count toward the 5,000-character description limit

Tags (500 Characters Total)

Tag Limits

Total characters: 500 (across all tags) Per tag: 30 characters maximum Practical limit: 10-15 tags typically

Tag Strategy

What tags do:

• Help YouTube understand content
• Support categorization
• Minor ranking factor (less important than before)

What to include:

• Primary keyword
• Variations and synonyms
• Related topics
• Common misspellings (debatable value)

Example tags:

premiere pro tutorial
video editing for beginners
how to edit videos
adobe premiere pro 2026
video editing software

Tag Best Practices

Do:

• Put most important tags first
• Use mix of broad and specific tags
• Include your brand/channel name

Don’t:

• Use misleading tags
• Stuff irrelevant popular tags
• Exceed 500 characters total
• Repeat the same tag with slight variations

Comments (10,000 Characters)

Comment Limits

Maximum: 10,000 characters Practical use: Most comments are much shorter

Comment Features

Creator features:

• Pin comments (1 per video)
• Heart comments
• Reply with Creator badge

Strategy:

• Pin a comment with additional info, links, or question
• Respond to comments early for engagement boost

Channel Optimization

Channel Name (100 Characters)

Display varies: May truncate in different views Best practice: Keep concise and memorable

Channel Description (1,000 Characters)

Location: About tab Visibility: First 200-300 characters visible Searchable: Yes—include relevant keywords

Include:

• What your channel offers
• Upload schedule
• What viewers will learn/gain
• Call-to-action (subscribe prompt)

YouTube Shorts

Shorts Title

Limit: Same 100 characters Display: Limited on Shorts shelf Best practice: Very front-loaded (first 40-50 chars)

Shorts Description

Limit: Appears to be around 300 characters Visibility: Limited in Shorts player Focus: Hashtags for categorization

Playlist Optimization

Playlist Title (150 Characters)

Display: ~70 characters in most views Strategy: Keyword-focused, front-loaded

Playlist Description (5,000 Characters)

Display: First 150 characters visible SEO value: Playlists can rank in search Include: Keywords and playlist overview

SEO Optimization Summary

Where Keywords Matter Most

Highest impact:

1. Title (first 50-60 characters)
2. Description (first 157 characters)
3. Spoken words in video (transcription)

Supporting impact: 4. Tags 5. Hashtags 6. Filename (before upload)

The YouTube Algorithm Factors

Beyond text:

• Click-through rate (CTR)
• Watch time
• Engagement (likes, comments, shares)
• Session time (do viewers keep watching?)

Text helps you get impressions; video quality determines success.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many characters show in YouTube search titles?

Approximately 70 characters show in search results before truncation. On suggested videos and mobile, even less may be visible.

Do tags still matter for YouTube SEO?

Tags have decreased in importance but still help YouTube understand your content. Focus more energy on title and description optimization.

How long should my YouTube description be?

Use enough to cover your topic thoroughly—often 1,000-2,000 characters. The first 157 characters are most critical for search snippets.

Should I use all 500 characters in tags?

Not necessarily. Use relevant tags until you’ve covered your topic; don’t pad with irrelevant terms just to fill the limit.

Do hashtags in descriptions help YouTube videos?

Yes, hashtags help categorization and can help discoverability. Use 3-5 relevant hashtags.

What happens if my title exceeds 100 characters?

You won’t be able to save the video with a title over 100 characters. YouTube enforces this limit.

Key Takeaways

• Title: 100 characters max, but first 50-70 are most critical (visible in search)
• Description: 5,000 characters max, but first 100-157 show in snippets
• Tags: 500 total characters, 30 per individual tag maximum
• Hashtags: 15 maximum per video, first 3 appear above title
• Use timestamps to improve navigation and viewer experience
• Front-load keywords in title and description opening

Conclusion

YouTube’s character limits give you significant space for optimization, but what viewers actually see is much more limited. Focus your keyword efforts on the first 50-60 characters of titles and first 157 characters of descriptions—that’s what appears in search results and drives clicks. Use timestamps, strategic hashtags, and relevant tags to support discoverability, but remember that video quality and engagement metrics ultimately determine your success. Try our free letter counter → to optimize your YouTube titles and descriptions for maximum impact within the visible character limits.