Notification Text Design — Character Limits by Platform
Push notifications and email subject lines are your first point of contact with users. Conveying information effectively within limited display space requires understanding each platform's character limits and designing text for maximum impact.
Character Limits by Platform
| Channel | Title | Body | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| iOS Push | ~50 chars | ~178 chars | Lock screen shows ~4 lines |
| Android Push | ~65 chars | ~240 chars | Expandable view available |
| Email Subject | 40–50 chars | — | Mobile truncates at ~30 chars |
| Email Preheader | — | 40–90 chars | Varies by email client |
| Web Push (Chrome) | ~50 chars | ~120 chars | Varies by OS and screen |
| macOS Notification | ~40 chars | ~130 chars | Banner shows ~2 lines |
| Windows Notification | ~60 chars | ~200 chars | Action Center shows full text |
| SMS | — | 160 chars (English) | Split into segments if exceeded |
Push Notification Design
iOS and Android differ in display area. On iOS lock screens, titles show 1 line and body shows about 4 lines, so place critical information within the first 50 characters. Android supports expandable views, but the notification list truncates to 1 line — make the first 40 characters count.
APNs payload limit is 4,096 bytes; FCM is 4,000 bytes. These include metadata, so the visible text character count is considerably less.
Email Subject Line Length
Desktop email clients display about 60 characters, but mobile truncates at roughly 30. With mobile reading now dominant, place the core message within the first 30 characters. Use the preheader (40–90 characters) to supplement what the subject line cannot convey.
UX Design Principles
Effective notifications share common principles. First, lead with user value: "Your order has shipped" or "30% off sale starts now." Second, include an action prompt: "Check now" or "3 hours left." Third, personalize when possible — notifications using the recipient's name or past behavior achieve higher engagement.
Common Mistakes
- Sending too many notifications — more than 3 push notifications per day dramatically increases opt-out rates.
- Placing the key message at the end of email subjects — mobile truncation means it never gets seen.
Conclusion
Keep notification titles under 40 characters and body text under 100 characters as a baseline for cross-platform compatibility. For email subjects, place the core message within 30 characters for mobile. Use Character Counter to fine-tune your notification text.