What Is the YouTube Title Character Limit?
YouTube allows a maximum of 100 characters in a video title. However, just because you can use all 100 characters doesn't mean you should. Different surfaces on YouTube display different amounts of your title before cutting it off:
100
Max Characters
Total characters YouTube allows in a title
60-70
Optimal Desktop
Full title visible in desktop search results
45-55
Optimal Mobile
Full title visible on mobile app & search
55-60
Search Snippet
Characters shown in Google search snippets
The single most important rule: put your primary keyword in the first 50 characters. Even if your title gets truncated on mobile, the keyword remains visible and clickable.
How Long Should a YouTube Title Be?
YouTube SEO research consistently shows that titles in the 50-70 character range perform best across all devices. Here is a complete breakdown by length:
| Length | Characters | Mobile | Desktop | Best For |
|---|
| Too Short | Under 30 | Full | Full | Not enough context for algorithm |
| Good | 31-50 | Full | Full | Mobile-first, Shorts |
| Optimal | 51-70 | Slight truncation | Full | Most video types - recommended |
| Caution | 71-100 | Truncated | May truncate | Detailed, keyword-rich topics |
Desktop vs Mobile Title Truncation
One of the most overlooked aspects of YouTube SEO is the difference between how titles appear on desktop versus mobile. With over 70% of YouTube watch time coming from mobile devices, mobile truncation is critical to understand:
Desktop - Shows up to 70 characters in the video sidebar and up to 60-65 in search results.
Mobile App - Shows approximately 50 characters in the home feed before truncating with "...".
Google Search - Shows approximately 55-60 characters in YouTube search result snippets on Google.
YouTube Search - Shows up to 2 lines of text, roughly 80 characters total across two lines.
The solution: keep your core message and primary keyword within the first 50 characters, then use the remaining characters for secondary keywords and additional context.
How to Write a High-CTR YouTube Title
Click-through rate (CTR) is one of YouTube's strongest ranking signals. Here are the proven elements that boost title CTR:
1
Include a number - "5 Ways", "10 Mistakes", "2026 Guide". Numbered titles get 36% higher CTR on average. The human brain gravitates toward specific, quantifiable information.
2
Use power words - "Ultimate", "Secret", "Proven", "Free", "Step by Step", "Beginner", "Advanced". These create emotional triggers that compel clicks.
3
Ask a question or use brackets - "How to...?", "[SOLVED]", "(Honest Review)". Brackets add structure and signal what type of content viewers will get.
4
Front-load your keyword - Put your primary keyword in the first 3-5 words. YouTube's algorithm weights the beginning of the title more heavily.
5
Add the current year - "(2026)" or "in 2026" signals fresh, relevant content. Viewers prefer recent guides over older ones.
High-CTR Power Words
UltimateSecretProvenFreeEasyFastBestNewHow toStep by StepCompleteNeverAlwaysInstantlyWithoutBefore