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Google Ads preview tool for search ads
A responsive search ad takes up to 15 headlines of 30 characters and 4 descriptions of 90 characters; Google shows up to 3 headlines and 2 descriptions at a time. Write yours below to check the character counts and see a preview on desktop and mobile. Shuffle to see other combinations Google might show.
By Alain Abulafya, founder of PPCleaner · Updated
PPCleaner
A great ad on the wrong search still costs you the click. PPCleaner reads your search terms every night and blocks the ones that were never going to buy.
Start 7 days freeResponsive search ad character limits
| Element | Limit | How many |
|---|---|---|
| Headline | 30 characters | 3 to 15 |
| Description | 90 characters | 2 to 4 |
| Display path | 15 characters each | 0 to 2 |
| Business name | 25 characters | 1 |
Google counts double-width characters, such as Chinese, Japanese or Korean, as two. The display path is the text shown after your domain; it doesn't have to exist on your site.
How to write headlines that earn the click
- Put the keyword in at least one headline. It confirms to the searcher that the ad answers what they typed.
- Make each headline work alone. Google mixes them in any order, so none should depend on another.
- Give a reason to choose you: a price, a delay, a guarantee, a number.
- Pin sparingly. Pinning a headline to position 1 forces it to always show, but limits the combinations Google can test.
After the ad: the searches it shows on
The best ad in the account still shows on searches you never chose, and each click on one of them is paid. Check the CPC of your keywords to see what those clicks cost, and use negative keywords to keep the ad on the right searches.
Frequently asked questions
How many headlines does Google show?
Up to three on a search results page, and sometimes only two, depending on the device and the space available. Descriptions: up to two.
Is this exactly how my ad will look?
It is a close approximation. Google adapts the layout to the device, the query, the assets you added and ongoing tests, so the real ad can differ slightly.
Why does Google refuse my headline?
Most often because it is over 30 characters, uses excessive capitals or punctuation, repeats another headline, or contains a symbol Google Ads doesn't allow, such as an exclamation mark in a headline.
Is anything I type sent to PPCleaner?
No. The preview is built in your browser.