Check your Shopify SEO titles, meta descriptions, and product titles against both the field limits and Google's display limits above.
Shopify Character Limits in 2026
| Field | Limit |
|---|---|
| SEO page title field | 70 characters (Google shows ~60) |
| Meta description field | 320 characters (Google shows ~160) |
| Product title | 255 characters |
| Image alt text (recommended) | ~125 characters |
Limits verified as of July 2026. Platforms change limits occasionally — if you spot one that moved, let us know.
Field Limits vs. Display Limits
Shopify lets you type more than Google will ever show: the SEO title field accepts 70 characters but Google truncates around 60, and the meta description field accepts 320 while Google displays about 160. Fill to the field limit and your carefully written ending disappears in search results — write to the display limit instead.
Product Page SEO Tips
- Title pattern that works: Product name + key attribute + brand — “Linen Duvet Cover Queen, Natural | StoreName”.
- Don't let Shopify auto-fill. By default the SEO title copies the product title; rewrite it for search intent.
- Meta descriptions sell the click: shipping, returns, or a differentiator (“Free 30-day returns”) beats repeating the title.
- Alt text ~125 characters: describe the image for shoppers using screen readers first, keywords second.
Why does Google show different text than my Shopify meta description?
Google rewrites descriptions that are too long, duplicated across products, or a poor match for the query. Unique, ~155-character descriptions per product are the best way to keep yours.
Should my product title and SEO title be the same?
Not necessarily. The product title (up to 255 characters) speaks to shoppers browsing your store; the SEO title (70 characters) competes on Google. Writing them separately lets you keep the store title descriptive and the SEO title keyword-lean.