Truncate Text
Shorten text to a character or word limit without cutting words in half.
- Free
- Real-time
- Runs locally
Limit
Count
Apply to
Ending
Before
0
Characters
After
0
Characters
Shortened
No
Cut text down to an exact length in one step. Set a limit in characters or words, and the text is shortened at the last full word, with an ellipsis added so readers can see it continues. The ellipsis can count toward the limit, so the result never runs over.
Shorten a whole text or every line of a list separately, which is perfect for product names, titles and spreadsheet columns. Presets cover SEO titles, meta descriptions, SMS messages and social posts, and emoji and accented letters are never split. It all runs in your browser.
How to truncate text
- STEP 01
Paste your text
Paste a paragraph to shorten, or a list to shorten line by line.
- STEP 02
Set the limit
Enter the maximum number of characters or words, or click a preset like Meta description · 160.
- STEP 03
Choose the ending and copy
Pick …, ..., no ending or your own text, then copy or download the shortened result.
Features
Characters or words
Limit text by visible characters, where emoji count as one, or by number of words.
No words cut in half
Text is shortened at the last space before the limit, and dangling commas or dashes are removed.
Ellipsis that fits
Use …, ..., nothing or custom text such as “ [read more]”, counted within the limit if you like.
Line by line
Truncate every line of a list separately, leaving short lines untouched.
Handy presets
One-click limits for SEO titles (60), meta descriptions (160), SMS (160) and posts on X (280).
Before and after
See the length before and after, and how many lines were shortened.
Common length limits
Some limits people often shorten text for:
- Page titles in search results are typically cut off after about 50–60 characters.
- Meta descriptions are often shortened in search results beyond roughly 150–160 characters.
- A single SMS holds 160 GSM-7 characters, or 70 when it contains emoji or other Unicode characters.
- Posts on X allow 280 characters for standard accounts.
Frequently asked questions
How do I shorten text without cutting words?
Keep “Keep whole words” on. The text is cut at the last space before the limit, so the final word is always complete.
Does the ellipsis count toward the limit?
By default, yes, so the result including … never exceeds the limit. Turn off “Count the ending in the limit” to keep the full limit for the text and add the ending after it.
Can I truncate every line of a list?
Yes. Choose “Each line” and every line is shortened separately. Lines already within the limit are left exactly as they are.
How are emoji counted?
As one character each, like accented letters, so they are never cut in half. This matches what you see on screen.
Can I limit by words instead of characters?
Yes. Choose Words and enter how many to keep. Punctuation attached to the last word is kept, and the chosen ending is added.
Is my text uploaded?
No. Text is shortened in your browser and nothing is sent to a server.