Meta ad copy checker: see what shows before “more”
Type or paste your ad’s primary text, headline and description. The checker counts the characters people see and shows what is visible before Meta cuts the text: about 125 characters of primary text on Instagram and about 80 on Facebook, about 40 for the headline, and about 18 for the description, which only Facebook shows. Put your offer where it will be seen.
What people see before the cut
Our bestsellers, 30% off until Monday midnight. Free delivery on every order over ₹999, and gift-wrapping on the house.
Shop the Black Friday edit
Ends Monday
On Facebook: “Our bestsellers, 30% off until Monday midnight. Free delivery on every order ove…”
How to use it
- Paste your primary text, the words above the image or carousel.
- Add your headline and description.
- Watch the counts. Green fits; amber will be cut.
- Read the preview on the right: it shows only what people see before the cut, with “more” where Meta adds it.
The lengths it uses
| Field | Shown before the cut | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Primary text | About 125 characters, about 80 on Facebook | Every placement |
| Headline | About 40 characters | Under the image or each card |
| Description | About 18 characters | Some Facebook placements only |
Meta does not publish one fixed limit for every placement, and what shows changes with the device and the placement. These are the lengths shown before truncation as measured in July 2026.
Writing for the cut
- Lead with the offer. "30% off until Monday" in the first 80 characters, not after a greeting.
- One idea per field. The primary text sells, the headline names the product or the action, the description adds a detail.
- Say when it ends. A date or a time gives people a reason to act now.
- Match the image. In a carousel ad, the primary text sits above every card, so keep it about the whole set; each card’s headline can name its own product.
Common mistakes
- A greeting first. "Hey everyone, we are so excited to share" uses the visible space before saying anything.
- The price in the description. Most placements never show it.
- Hashtags in ads. They take room and send people away from your ad.
- The same words as the image. If the slide says it, the text can say something else.
Planning a sale? See our Black Friday ideas. Making the images too? Check them with the Instagram size checker.
Questions
How long can Meta ad primary text be?
You can write much more than people see. On Instagram about 125 characters show before the text is cut with “more”; on Facebook about 80. Put the offer and the reason to act first.
How long should a Meta ad headline be?
About 40 characters show before the headline is cut. Shorter is safer on small screens.
Where does the description show?
Only on some Facebook placements, under the headline, and only about 18 characters of it. Do not rely on it for anything important.
Does an emoji count as one character?
To a reader, yes, and the checker counts it as one. Use them sparingly: they take room from your offer.
Sources
- AdManage, Meta carousel ad specs (updated 20 July 2026): text shown before truncation, 2 to 10 cards, checked 28 October 2026