Google Ads Preview Tool
Write your search ad’s headlines, descriptions and assets within the character limits, and see how it looks on desktop and mobile.
This tool runs entirely in your browser. What you enter is not sent to a server, not saved and not stored in cookies.
In Google Ads, much of an ad’s success sits in its headlines and descriptions. This tool lets you write your ad within the character limits before it goes live, see how it will sit in search results, and see how much bigger assets make it.
How to use it
- Enter the final URL and the two paths shown after the domain.
- Enter three headlines and two descriptions; the counter warns you as you near the limit.
- Switch on the assets you will use: sitelinks, callouts, phone, location, prices, promotion.
- Switch between desktop and mobile to make sure the ad reads well on both.
Frequently asked questions
How many characters is a Google Ads headline?
Each headline is up to 30 characters. Responsive search ads take up to 15 headlines; Google shows up to three of them together for each search.
How long can a description be?
Up to 90 characters each. An ad can have up to 4 descriptions; usually two are shown.
What is the display path?
Two parts of up to 15 characters each, shown after the domain (e.g. site.com/marketing/guide). They do not have to be the real page address; they tell people what the ad is about.
What do assets (extensions) do?
They make the ad bigger and add information: links to other pages, short selling points, phone, address, prices or a promotion. They usually raise the click-through rate and cost nothing extra.
Is the preview exactly what Google shows?
It is a close approximation. Google decides which headlines, descriptions and assets to show for each search, so every headline should also make sense on its own.
Character limits for Google search ads
| Field | Limit | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Headline | 30 | Up to 15 in a responsive search ad; up to 3 are shown at once. |
| Description | 90 | Up to 4 in the ad; usually 2 are shown. |
| Display path | 15 + 15 | Shown after the domain; it does not have to exist on the site. |
| Sitelink / callout | 25 | Sitelinks lead to different pages; callouts are short, unlinked selling points. |
- Put the search term in headline 1 and a clear offer or benefit in headline 2.
- Every headline should work on its own. Google mixes them, so avoid headlines that only make sense in order.
- Add assets. They make the ad bigger and usually raise the click-through rate.
- Tag the final URL with the UTM Link Builder only if auto-tagging is off; Google Ads adds its own gclid.