Etsy Character Limits 2026: 140 Title, 13 Tags (20 Each)

Quick Reference: Etsy Character Limits

Field	Character Limit	What You Need to Know
Title	140 characters	First 40-50 characters show in mobile search
Tags	13 tags, 20 characters each	Multi-word tags allowed (spaces count)
Description	~10,000 characters	Only first 160 characters visible in search results
Shop Announcement	5,000 characters	Appears at top of your shop
Shop Name	20 characters	Cannot be changed easily once set
Section Names	24 characters	For organizing your shop categories
About Section	5,000 characters	Tell your shop's story
Shop Policies	5,000 characters each	Separate limits for shipping, returns, etc.

Who This Guide Is For

You're an Etsy seller who wants to maximize every character in your listings without wasting space on keyword stuffing. This reference covers every character limit on Etsy, why they matter for search rankings, and how to use them strategically.

Etsy Title Character Limits

The Etsy title character limit is 140 characters. That's your entire budget to tell both Etsy's search algorithm and human shoppers what you're selling.

Here's what actually matters:

The first 40-50 characters are critical. Mobile search and Google previews truncate titles after this point. If your main keyword sits at character 80, most buyers will never see it.

Front-load your primary keywords. Don't waste the opening on filler words like "Beautiful handmade" when you could say "Leather crossbody bag women."

Good vs. Bad Title Examples

Bad (140 characters): "Beautiful Handmade Custom Personalized Leather Crossbody Purse Bag for Women Ladies Girls Gift Present Idea Boho Style Fashion Accessory"

Good (138 characters): "Leather Crossbody Bag Women, Personalized Purse with Zipper Pocket, Handmade Boho Shoulder Bag, Custom Name Embossed, Birthday Gift"

The good example puts "Leather Crossbody Bag Women" first (that's what people search). It includes specific details (zipper pocket, shoulder bag) instead of vague adjectives. Every word earns its place.

If you're hunting for high-value keywords that fit within your character budget, eRank shows you search volume and competition data so you're not guessing which phrases matter.

Title Character Strategy:

• Characters 1-40: Primary keyword + main product type
• Characters 41-100: Secondary keywords, specific features, use case
• Characters 101-140: Additional long-tail keywords, gift occasions

Use commas or pipes (|) to separate keyword phrases. This helps readability and signals to Etsy where one concept ends and another begins.

For a complete system on writing titles that convert, check out our Etsy title formula.

Tag Character Limits

Etsy gives you 13 tags, with 20 characters maximum per tag. That's 260 total characters to reinforce your listing's relevance.

Multi-word tags are allowed. "crossbody bag" counts as 14 characters (including the space). This is crucial because single-word tags like "bag" are too broad to rank for.

Don't repeat words that already appear in your title. Etsy's algorithm already knows those words describe your product. Use tags to add related terms that didn't fit in your title.

Tag Character Examples

If your title is "Leather Crossbody Bag Women," your tags shouldn't be:

• leather bag (waste, already in title)
• crossbody purse (waste, already in title)

Instead:

• vegan leather (alternative material search)
• small purse (specific size)
• everyday bag (use case)
• brown crossbody (specific color)
• shoulder bag (alternative product type)

You don't need to use all 20 characters in every tag. A 10-character tag like "hobo bag" is perfectly valid if that's the right phrase. Don't artificially inflate tags to hit the limit.

The character limit forces you to be specific. "handmade gift" (14 chars) is better than "handmade gifts for women who love unique items" (which wouldn't fit anyway).

For a complete tag strategy, read our guide on Etsy tags that rank.

Description Character Limits

Etsy allows approximately 10,000 characters in your product description. But here's the catch: only the first 160 characters appear in search results.

Those first 160 characters are your meta description. They show up in Etsy search and Google search results. Write them like an advertisement, not an essay introduction.

Description Structure Strategy

Characters 1-160 (the hook): "Handmade leather crossbody bag with adjustable strap and zipper pocket. Full-grain leather ages beautifully. Free personalization available."

This tells shoppers exactly what they're getting and includes a benefit (ages beautifully) and an incentive (free personalization).

Characters 161-500 (key details):

• Dimensions and materials
• Color options
• What's included
• Shipping timeframe

Characters 501-2,000 (the full story):

• How it's made
• Care instructions
• Your shop's story (briefly)
• Size guide or usage tips

Characters 2,001+: Most shoppers won't read this far. Use this space for FAQ answers, detailed policies, or keyword variations for SEO purposes only.

The 10,000-character limit is generous. Most converting descriptions stay under 2,000 characters because buyers skim, they don't read novels.

For templates you can copy and customize, see our Etsy description template guide.

Other Etsy Character Limits

Shop Announcement (5,000 characters)

This appears at the top of your shop page. Use it for:

• Current sales or promotions
• Shipping updates during holidays
• New product announcements
• Processing time expectations

Update this regularly. A stale announcement from 2023 signals an inactive shop.

Shop Name (20 characters)

Choose carefully. Etsy makes it difficult to change your shop name later, and it affects your shop URL.

20 characters isn't much. "ChrisLeatherGoods" fits (18 chars). "ChristopherHandmadeLeatherGoodsShop" doesn't (35 chars).

If your shop name includes searchable keywords (like "leather"), that's a small SEO bonus. But branding matters more. You'll build recognition around this name.

Section Names (24 characters)

Organize your shop with sections like:

• "Crossbody Bags" (15 chars)
• "Tote Bags" (9 chars)
• "Wallets" (7 chars)

Keep them simple and searchable. "My Favorite Creations" tells shoppers nothing.

About Section (5,000 characters)

Tell your story, but make it relevant. Shoppers care about:

• Why you started making these products
• What makes your process unique
• Sustainability or ethical practices
• The person behind the shop

Don't write an autobiography. Focus on what makes buyers confident in their purchase.

Shop Policies (5,000 characters each)

Each policy section (shipping, returns, additional) gets 5,000 characters.

Be specific:

• "Orders ship within 3 business days" (not "I ship fast")
• "30-day returns accepted for unused items" (not "I'm flexible on returns")
• "Custom orders cannot be refunded" (set clear expectations)

Clear policies reduce disputes and support tickets.

Common Character Limit Mistakes

1. Keyword Stuffing Titles (Hurts Readability)

"Leather Bag Crossbody Bag Shoulder Bag Purse Bag Women Bag Handmade Bag Custom Bag Personalized Bag Boho Bag Gift Bag"

This hits 140 characters, but it reads like spam. Etsy's algorithm is smart enough to penalize listings that sacrifice readability for keyword density. Human shoppers definitely won't click.

2. Using All 20 Characters in Every Tag (Long-Tail Is Fine)

You don't get bonus points for maxing out every tag. "gift for mom" (12 chars) is a perfectly valid long-tail tag. Don't pad it to "gift for mom birthday" just to use more characters if that's not the right search phrase.

3. Ignoring the First 160 Characters of Description

"Welcome to my shop! I'm so glad you're here. I've been making handmade items for 15 years and I love every minute of it. Now, let me tell you about this product..."

By character 160, you still haven't described the product. That's what shows up in search results. Wasted opportunity.

4. Repeating Title Keywords in Tags

Your title already says "leather crossbody bag." Don't use those exact words again in tags. Use that tag space for synonyms (shoulder bag, purse) or related terms (vegan leather, brown leather).

5. Writing Novel-Length Descriptions Nobody Reads

Etsy allows 10,000 characters. You don't need to use them all. A 1,200-character description that covers materials, dimensions, shipping, and care instructions is plenty. Everything beyond that is SEO filler that most shoppers skip.

How to Check Character Counts

Etsy's listing editor shows you the character count as you type. Watch the counter when editing titles and tags.

Word processors like Google Docs or Microsoft Word have built-in character count tools (usually under Tools > Word Count). Paste your title to check length before adding it to Etsy.

Our Listing Grader at /tools/listing-grader analyzes your titles, tags, and descriptions. It flags character limit issues and shows you exactly what's visible in search results.

Browser character counters like charactercountonline.com work in a pinch, but Etsy's native counter is most accurate since it accounts for any special characters or formatting.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Etsy title character limit?

The Etsy title character limit is 140 characters. This includes all letters, numbers, spaces, and punctuation marks. The limit is the same for all product categories and seller locations.

How many tags can I use on Etsy?

Etsy allows 13 tags per listing, with each tag limited to 20 characters. You can use multi-word phrases within a single tag, and spaces count toward the 20-character limit.

What's the Etsy description character limit?

Etsy descriptions can contain approximately 10,000 characters, but only the first 160 characters appear in search results. Focus on making those first 160 characters compelling and informative.

Do spaces count toward Etsy character limits?

Yes, spaces count as characters in Etsy titles, tags, and descriptions. A title like "Leather Bag" counts as 11 characters (6 + 1 space + 4), not 10.

Can I use special characters in Etsy titles?

Yes, you can use special characters like commas, pipes (|), ampersands (&), and parentheses in Etsy titles. These count as one character each. Avoid excessive punctuation that looks spammy.

Should I use all 140 characters in my title?

Use as many characters as you need to accurately describe your product with relevant keywords. If you've covered all important search terms in 120 characters, don't stuff in extra words just to hit 140. Quality over quantity.

Next Steps

Now that you know the limits, use them strategically:

Generate optimized titles that maximize your 140 characters with our Etsy Title Generator.

Create targeted tags that complement your title with our Etsy Tags Generator.

Audit your existing listings to find character limit issues with our Listing Grader.

Master the complete Etsy system with our comprehensive Etsy selling guide.

Every character counts. Make them work for you.