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YouTube Title Character Count - The Right Length for More Views
As of August 2026, YouTube titles can be up to 100 characters, but search results only show about 60. The rest gets cut off with "...". High-performing videos have titles crafted with this visible character count in mind.
YouTube Character Limits
| Item | Character Limit | Visible Characters |
|---|---|---|
| Video title | 100 characters | ~60 in search results |
| Channel name | 50 characters | ~20 next to avatar |
| Description | 5,000 characters | First 2-3 lines shown |
| Comments | 10,000 characters | Long comments collapsed |
| Tags | 500 characters total | Hidden from viewers |
| Hashtags | Up to 60 | 3 shown above title |
The limits above are the specifications as of August 2026. They can change, so also check the input screen when you upload.
Where Titles Get Truncated
| Location | Desktop | Mobile | TV |
|---|---|---|---|
| Search results | ~70 chars | ~60 chars | ~50 chars |
| Suggested (sidebar) | ~50 chars | ~50 chars | ~40 chars |
| Home feed | ~60 chars | ~55 chars | ~45 chars |
| Watch page | Full title | Full title | ~60 chars |
The strictest cutoff is TV suggested videos at about 40 characters. To avoid truncation on all devices, put the most important information in the first 40 characters.
What High-View Titles Have in Common
| Pattern | Example | Why It Works |
|---|---|---|
| Include numbers | "5-Minute Guide" "3 Ways to..." | Specificity increases clicks |
| Ask a question | "Why Does...?" | Triggers curiosity |
| Show the result | "...and the Result Was Shocking" | Stimulates curiosity |
| Name the audience | "For Beginners" "Even Kids Can..." | Viewers feel it is for them |
| Keywords up front | "Minecraft Build Tutorial..." | Better search visibility |
Title Length vs View Count
| Title Length | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Short (under 20) | Impactful, memorable | Fewer search keywords |
| Medium (20-50) | Good balance of info and readability | None significant |
| Long (50-70) | More keywords included | May get truncated |
| Very long (70+) | Maximum information | Almost certainly truncated, hard to read |
Most popular YouTubers keep titles between 30-50 characters. Like SEO character count design, the skill is packing search-friendly keywords and click-worthy phrasing into limited space.
Thumbnail Text and Title Relationship
| Thumbnail Text | Recommended Length | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Main text | 6-10 characters | Readable on mobile screens |
| Sub text | None or under 5 | Avoid information overload |
Too much text on thumbnails becomes unreadable on small screens. Thumbnails grab attention; titles convey content. Dividing these roles is the most effective approach.
Comparison with Other Video Platforms
| Platform | Title Limit | Description | Discovery Method |
|---|---|---|---|
| YouTube | 100 characters | 5,000 characters | Search-driven |
| TikTok | None (part of caption) | 4,000 characters | Hashtag-driven |
| Niconico | 100 characters | 1,024 characters | Tag-driven |
| Instagram Reels | None (part of caption) | 2,200 characters | Hashtag-driven |
YouTube offers 5,100 characters across title and description combined. As discussed in hashtag character count strategy, each platform has different text-based discovery mechanisms. YouTube relies on title and description text; TikTok relies on hashtags.