Text Truncator
Shorten text to a character or word limit with a custom suffix
What does this Text Truncator do?
This tool shortens a piece of text to a length you choose, counted either in characters or in words. Paste your text into the left box, set a limit, and the shortened version appears on the right, ready to copy. When the text is longer than your limit, it is cut and a suffix of your choice, three dots by default, is added at the end. When the text is already within the limit, it is returned exactly as you typed it. Everything runs inside your browser, so your text is never sent to a server.
How to Use This Text Truncator?
- Add your text. Paste or type it into the Original Text box. A badge above the box shows the live character and word count as you go.
- Choose how to truncate. Open the Truncate By menu and pick Character Limit or Word Limit.
- Enter a limit. Type the number in the Limit Number field. It starts at 100 and must be 1 or higher.
- Set the suffix. Keep the default three dots, type your own ending, or clear the field to add nothing.
- Check the result. The Truncated Output box updates as you type, and the length bar under the settings compares the original and truncated lengths. Click Truncate Text if you want to run it again.
- Copy or reset. Use Copy Output to place the result on your clipboard, or Clear All to empty both boxes and restore the default settings.
Built-In Features
Character or Word Limit
Switch between cutting by characters and cutting by words with one dropdown. Both modes use the same limit field, so changing the mode never means starting over.
Custom Suffix
The ending defaults to three dots, but you can replace it with any text, such as a short “Read more” cue, or leave it completely empty for a clean and simple cut.
Live Counts on Both Sides
Each box shows its own character and word total, and a length bar compares the original and truncated size in whichever unit you selected, making the difference easy to see.
Instant Side-by-Side Preview
The output refreshes while you type or change any setting, so you can adjust the limit and watch the cut move. On phones the two boxes stack vertically.
One-Click Copy
Copy Output sends the truncated text to your clipboard and shows a short confirmation message, so you know the copy worked quickly and without confusion.
Limit Check and Reset
If the limit is empty, zero, or negative, the tool shows an “Invalid number” message. Clear All restores the defaults: a limit of 100, character mode, and a three-dot suffix.
How Does the Text Truncator Decide Where to Cut?
The two modes follow different rules, and knowing them helps you predict the output before you copy it. In both modes, the tool tries to avoid ending on a half-finished word.
Character Limit Mode
The tool takes the first characters up to your limit, then finds the last space or line break and cuts there. This keeps the result ending on a whole word. If there is no space or line break within the limit, such as one very long string, it cuts at the exact limit. Spaces and line breaks count as characters.
Word Limit Mode
A word is any run of characters separated by spaces or line breaks. The tool keeps the first words up to your limit, leaves the original spacing and line breaks between them untouched, removes any trailing whitespace, and adds the suffix. A hyphenated term such as “well-known” counts as one word, so it stays together as a single word.
If your text is already within the limit, it is returned unchanged and no suffix is added. The suffix only appears when something was actually cut off.
Does the Suffix Count Toward the Character Limit?
No. In this tool the suffix is added after the text has been cut, so it sits on top of your limit. If you set a limit of 20 and keep the three-dot suffix, the finished output can be a little over 20 characters. This matters when a field enforces a strict maximum, because the extra dots could push the text past it. The example below uses the sentence “The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog”.
| Limit | Suffix | Output | Output Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 | … | The quick brown fox… | 22 characters |
| 17 | … | The quick brown… | 18 characters |
| 20 | None (empty) | The quick brown fox | 19 characters |
To stay inside a hard maximum, subtract the length of your suffix from the limit before you enter it. For a three-dot suffix and a 160 character cap, enter 157. Notice also that the output can come out shorter than the limit, because the cut steps back to the nearest space so the last word stays whole.
Should You Truncate by Characters or by Words?
Pick the mode that matches the rule you are trying to meet. If a platform or field measures length in characters, use character mode. If you only need a short teaser of a longer piece, word mode gives a more consistent feel.
| Mode | How It Counts | Best Suited For |
|---|---|---|
| Character Limit | Every character, including spaces, punctuation, and line breaks | Meta tags, SMS, social posts, database fields, fixed-width cards |
| Word Limit | Groups of characters separated by whitespace | Excerpts, teasers, summaries, forms with a word cap |
Character mode gives you tight control over length but may end a sentence early. Word mode keeps a steadier reading length but the character count can vary from one text to another.
Common Text Length Limits for SEO, Social Media, and Messaging
Many of the places people paste shortened text have a cap. These are commonly cited reference points, not fixed rules. Platforms change their limits from time to time, and search engines decide how much of a title or description to show based on pixel width, so treat the numbers as a guide and check the platform’s current guidelines.
| Where You Use It | Typical Length |
|---|---|
| Page title tag | Around 60 characters |
| Meta description | Around 150 to 160 characters |
| X (Twitter) post, standard account | 280 characters |
| SMS, single message | 160 characters (standard alphabet) |
| YouTube video title | 100 characters |
| Instagram caption | 2,200 characters |
| LinkedIn post | 3,000 characters |
| Google Ads responsive search ad | 30 characters per headline, 90 per description |
Common Reasons to Truncate Text
Search Snippets
Trim a long description down to a meta description or title that fits, and preview how it ends before you publish the page with confidence, clarity, and better search visibility every time.
Card and Product Previews
Blog cards, product listings, and search results usually show only the first lines of a longer description. Shorten it once, and every card stays the same size.
Posts and Messages
Fit a caption, announcement, or text message under a platform limit without rewriting it by hand or counting characters yourself, saving time and effort.
Fields With a Maximum
Form fields, spreadsheet columns, and database entries often reject values over a set length. Shorten the text first so the import or submission goes through.
Useful Tips
Subtract the Suffix Length
Because the suffix is added after the cut, lower your limit by its length when a hard maximum applies. With three dots, a 160 character cap means entering 157.
Read the Ending First
The tool cuts by length, not by meaning. Read the last few words of the output, and nudge the limit up or down if the sentence stops at an awkward spot.
Fix the Casing Before You Cut
If a title arrives in all capitals or mixed styles, run it through our Case Converter first, then truncate the cleaned version so the final text is ready to use immediately and consistently.
Order Lists Before Trimming
When your input is a list with one item per line, arrange it with the Text Sorter first. The items you want to keep will then sit at the top, ahead of the cut.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I truncate text online?
Paste your text into the Original Text box, choose Character Limit or Word Limit, and enter a number. The shortened text appears in the Truncated Output box straight away, and you can copy it with one click.
Is this Text Truncator free?
Yes. The tool is free to use and does not require an account or sign-up.
Can I truncate text by word count?
Yes. Choose Word Limit in the Truncate By menu and enter how many words you want to keep. The tool keeps the first words in your text and adds the suffix after them.
Does the tool cut words in half?
Not in normal text. In character mode, the cut steps back to the last space or line break within your limit, so the output ends on a whole word. The only exception is a single long string with no space or line break inside the limit, which is cut at the exact limit.
Does the suffix count toward the limit?
No. The suffix is added after the text is cut, so the final output can be longer than your limit by the length of the suffix. Lower the limit by that amount if you need to stay within a strict maximum.
Can I change or remove the three dots?
Yes. Type any ending you like into the Suffix field, or clear the field completely to truncate without adding anything.
What happens if my text is already shorter than the limit?
The text is returned unchanged and no suffix is added. The suffix only appears when part of the text has been removed.
How do I shorten a meta description to 160 characters?
Select Character Limit, enter 157 in the limit field, and keep the default three-dot suffix. The cut text plus the dots then stays within 160 characters. Search engines may still show a slightly different length depending on pixel width, so use the number as a guide.
How does the tool count words?
A word is any group of characters separated by spaces or line breaks. This means a hyphenated term such as “well-known” counts as one word, and punctuation attached to a word is counted with it.
Do spaces and line breaks count as characters?
Yes. In character mode, spaces, punctuation, and line breaks all count toward the limit. Some emoji and rare symbols are stored as two units by the browser and may be counted as two characters.
Why is the output shorter than my limit?
In character mode, the tool steps back to the last space or line break so the final word is not split. That can leave the output a few characters under your limit even after the suffix is added.
Is my text uploaded to a server?
No. The text is processed entirely in your browser and is never uploaded or stored anywhere.
What does the Clear All button reset?
It empties both text boxes and returns every setting to its default: Character Limit mode, a limit of 100, and a three-dot suffix.
Does this tool work on mobile devices?
Yes. The layout adapts to smaller screens, with the two text boxes stacked and the buttons arranged in a column, so it works on phones, tablets, and desktop browsers.