YouTube title and description checker
Paste your title and description to catch problems before you upload.
Limits from the official YouTube Help CenterLast reviewed: October 14, 2026Runs in your browser. Nothing you enter or open is uploaded.
YouTube may show up to 3 description hashtags by your title, choosing the most engaging.
The short answer
Paste your video title and description and the tool checks YouTube’s official limits: 100 characters for the title, 5,000 for the description, no more than 60 hashtags, and valid chapters that start at 0:00 with at least three timestamps in ascending order, each at least 10 seconds long. It also scores your title and suggests fixes.
How it is calculated
Characters are counted the way YouTube counts them; an emoji counts as one. Hashtags are found in any language, and timestamps are read at the start of each line in 1:05, 01:05 or 1:02:03 form.
The title score comes from our headline analyzer: length, a number, a clear angle, power words, a specific promise and no hype.
Worked example
A meal-prep video, using the title and description already filled in:
- The title "How to Meal Prep for the Week in 1 Hour: 5 Easy Recipes" is within the limit, with a number, a how-to angle and a time frame.
- The first line of the description repeats "meal prep for the week," so it shows in the preview.
- Chapters start at 0:00 and five timestamps go up in order; there are only 3 hashtags.
Every check passes, so the video is ready to upload.
Quick reference table
| Item | Limit or rule | What happens if you break it |
|---|---|---|
| Title length | 100 characters | YouTube won’t accept the title |
| Description length | 5,000 characters | YouTube won’t accept the description |
| Number of hashtags | 60 at most | YouTube ignores all of them |
| Hashtags by the title | Up to 3 from the description | YouTube picks the most engaging |
| First chapter | Starts at 0:00 | Chapters don’t show |
| Number of chapters | At least 3, in ascending order | Chapters don’t show |
| Chapter length | At least 10 seconds | Chapters don’t show |
Special cases and common mistakes
- The preview is approximate. Titles and descriptions look different on phones, desktops and TVs, and YouTube decides where to cut.
- Your first two lines matter most because they show before "more." Put your search words and your most important link there.
- More hashtags don’t help. Three to five precise hashtags beat twenty broad ones.
- Nothing is sent anywhere. Checks run in your browser; we never need your channel or account.
Frequently asked questions
How long can a YouTube title be?
Up to 100 characters, per YouTube Help. Shorter is usually better; lead with the important words because phones cut long titles.
How long can a YouTube description be?
Up to 5,000 characters. The first two lines are what viewers see before tapping "more."
How do I add chapters to a YouTube video?
List timestamps at the start of lines in your description, starting with 0:00, at least three in ascending order, each chapter 10 seconds or longer.
How many hashtags should I use on YouTube?
Never more than 60, or YouTube ignores all of them. YouTube may show up to 3 description hashtags next to your title.
Sources
- YouTube Help: Add video titles and descriptions (100 and 5,000 character limits) (Last reviewed: October 14, 2026)
- YouTube Help: Use hashtags for YouTube search (60-hashtag rule, 3 shown by the title) (Last reviewed: October 14, 2026)
- YouTube Help: Video chapters (00:00 first, 3 timestamps, 10-second minimum) (Last reviewed: October 14, 2026)