Text Truncator — Trim Text to Length
Truncate text to a specific character or word limit online. Add custom ellipsis, truncate at word boundary. Free tool, no signup.
Three steps to get started
Set your limit
Enter the maximum number of characters or words. Toggle between character and word mode to match your use case.
Configure options
Set a custom ellipsis and enable word boundary truncation for cleaner, more readable excerpts.
Paste and copy
Paste your text into the input area and copy the truncated result instantly.
When and why to truncate text
Nearly every content-driven application needs to truncate text at some point: card UIs show only the first sentence of an article, databases impose column length limits, and social media platforms enforce hard character caps. Truncating text correctly — at a word boundary, with a readable ellipsis — makes a huge difference in perceived quality.
Character vs. word limits
Character limits are enforced by APIs, databases, and platforms. A meta description longer than 160 characters gets cut by Google; a tweet over 280 characters is rejected. Character counting is exact and non-negotiable in these contexts.
Word limits are typically a UX choice. Showing "the first 50 words" of a blog post in a card preview is a readable, language-neutral way to create consistent-length excerpts regardless of word length variation.
Common applications
- SEO meta descriptions — trim to 155–160 characters for optimal search snippet display
- Social media posts — prepare content within platform character limits
- Email subject lines — stay under 50 characters for mobile preview
- Card/tile UI components — create consistent excerpt lengths for content feeds
- Database VARCHAR fields — ensure text fits within schema constraints
All processing is done in your browser. No data is ever sent to a server.