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Google Ads character counter

Short answer

Responsive search ad headlines can be up to 30 characters, descriptions up to 90 and each of the two display paths up to 15. You need 3 to 15 headlines and 2 to 4 descriptions. Paste yours below to count every line and preview how the ad reads.

Updated Nov 9, 2026By Caleb Canales, Founder, RunAdsSources (2)

Count your ad

A sample plumbing ad is loaded. Replace it with yours; counts and the preview update as you type. Nothing you type leaves your browser.

8/15
9/15
Sponsored · example.com/plumbing/emergencyEmergency Plumber Near You | Licensed Since 2009 | Upfront Price Before Work

Burst pipe or leak? A licensed plumber can be at your door today. Nights and weekends. Written price before we start. Stocked vans, so most repairs finish on the first visit.

Inside every limit: 4 headlines and 2 descriptions.
Headlinesmax 30 each
  • Emergency Plumber Near You26/30
  • Licensed Since 200919/30
  • Upfront Price Before Work25/30
  • Book a Visit Online Today25/30
Descriptionsmax 90 each
  • Burst pipe or leak? A licensed plumber can be at your door today. Nights and weekends.86/90
  • Written price before we start. Stocked vans, so most repairs finish on the first visit.87/90
Let RunAds write the ads

The agent writes all 15 headlines inside the limits, and you approve before launch.

Google's limits for responsive search ads

Limits from Google Ads Help, About responsive search ads.
FieldHow manyCharacters each
Headlines[1]3 to 1530
Descriptions[1]2 to 490
Display paths[1]Up to 215

How to use the space

  • Put a keyword in at least one headline. Google recommends it, and the matching words can show in bold.[1]
  • Write the first three headlines as if they will show together. Google may show any three in any order, so none should need another to make sense.
  • Use the description space. A 40-character description leaves 50 characters a competitor will use for an offer or a reason to call.
  • Skip tricks to save characters. Google's editorial policy rejects symbols used in place of words, capitals or punctuation used for effect, and phone numbers in the ad text. Use a call asset for the number.[2]
  • Use the display paths for the service and the town, such as /drain-cleaning/denver. They cost nothing and tell the searcher where the click goes.

When the counts are fine, run the same lines through the ad copy grader to check the writing itself.

Link to this tool

<a href="https://www.runads.ai/tools/google-ads-character-counter">Google Ads character counter by RunAds</a>

Common questions

What is the character limit for Google Ads headlines?

30 characters for each responsive search ad headline. Descriptions can be up to 90 characters and each display path up to 15, according to Google's responsive search ads help page.

Do spaces count toward the Google Ads character limit?

Yes. Every character you type counts, including spaces and punctuation. This counter counts them the same way.

How many headlines and descriptions does a responsive search ad need?

At least 3 headlines and 2 descriptions. You can add up to 15 headlines and 4 descriptions. Google mixes them, so write each one to make sense next to any other.

Why do Chinese, Japanese and Korean characters count double?

Google counts each character of a double-width language such as Korean, Japanese or Chinese as 2 toward the limit. A 30-character headline holds 15 of those characters. The counter applies the same rule.

Can RunAds write the headlines for me?

Yes. RunAds reads your site, writes up to 15 headlines and 4 descriptions per ad inside Google's limits, and shows you every line before anything launches. Signing up is free and credit packs start at $25.

Sources

  1. About responsive search ads, Google Ads Help. Checked Oct 30, 2026.3 to 15 headlines of up to 30 characters, 2 to 4 descriptions of up to 90 characters, 2 display paths of up to 15 characters; double-width characters (Korean, Japanese, Chinese) count as 2; include at least one keyword in your headlines.
  2. Editorial (Google Ads policy), Google Advertising Policies Help. Checked Oct 30, 2026.Bans capitalization or punctuation not used for its intended purpose, unsupported characters, gimmicky spacing, and phone numbers in ad text.

Every outside number on this page links to its source above, with the date we checked it.

Related pages

Ad copy graderGrade the same headlines A+ to F, with ranked fixes.Keyword match type toolTurn a keyword list into phrase and exact match.UTM link builderTag your ad and email links for Google Analytics.

Every headline, inside the limit.

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