Max-snippet max length

[SoulSurfer8]

Regarding Google's new max-snippet:[number], this is specifically for the length of the meta description?

Also, does anyone know what the max character length is?

[Dalerio-Consulting]

The new max-snippet feature is used for you to limit up to which length of characters you want to display the meta description for the page. You should be able to put any positive integer there.

The issue stands by the Meta Description best practices. If your meta description is over 160 characters, then Google will shorten it not to take too much search results space, so ideally you would want to put a max-snippet length of up to 160.

You can find more information about Meta description best practices here.

Daniel Rika - Dalerio Consulting
https://dalerioconsulting.com/
info@dalerioconsulting.com

[SoulSurfer8]

Thank you Daniel!

[KevinBudzynski]

For Google, typically between 920 and 923 pixels (or roughly 160 characters).  However, this does change periodically.

[SoulSurfer8]

Thanks. If we don't plan on shortening our meta description displayed in SERPs, do we need to do anything with max snippet length? Is it only for people who want to shorten the description showed?

[KevinBudzynski]

I try to structure the meta description to describe what is on the landing page in a way to encourage click-throughs under the max-constraint.  If you are shorter, no biggie! Good luck