How to use the title and tag checker
- Paste your listing title into the first box. The counter shows how many of the 140 characters you have used.
- Paste your tags, separated by commas or with one per line. Each tag is checked against the 20-character limit, and duplicates and unusual characters are flagged.
- Read the notes. Repeated words, too many capital letters and characters such as $ or ^ are pointed out so you can fix them before publishing.
- Fill every empty tag slot. An unused slot is a missed chance to match another buyer search.
Why titles and tags matter
Marketplace search engines decide which listings to show by matching what a shopper types against the words in your listing. On Etsy, your title and your 13 tags are the main places those words come from, along with categories and attributes. A listing can have beautiful photos and a fair price, but if it never appears for the phrases buyers really type, it will not get the views it needs.
The aim is not to stuff in as many words as possible. Each phrase should describe the item accurately and match something a real buyer would search. "Brown leather crossbody bag" is far more useful than "beautiful amazing bag", because people search for what something is, not how the seller feels about it.
Rules this tool checks
- Title length: 140 characters at most. Search results and phones often cut titles short, so put the clearest description of the item first.
- Tag count and length: up to 13 tags, each 20 characters or fewer. Multi-word phrases such as "gift for her" are allowed and often work well.
- Characters: tags should use letters, numbers, spaces, hyphens and apostrophes. In titles, the symbols %, :, & and + are commonly limited to one use each, and $, ^ and ` are typically rejected. Etsy's editor shows the final rule if something is not allowed.
- Capital letters: more than three words in ALL CAPS is flagged. It looks like shouting and can be rejected.
- Repeated words: using the same word several times in a title rarely helps. The tool lists repeats so you can use the space for a different, useful phrase.
Writing better tags: a quick method
Start with what the item is (for example "leather tote bag"), then add who it is for ("gift for her"), the occasion ("anniversary gift"), the style ("boho western bag"), the material ("full grain leather") and the use ("laptop work bag"). Mix broad phrases with specific ones. Broad phrases have more searches but more competition, while specific phrases bring buyers who already know what they want. Do not use tags for words that are not true about the item. Mismatched traffic does not turn into sales, and it can hurt how your listing performs over time.
Want the full explanation? Read our guide: Etsy SEO: a practical guide to titles and tags.
More guides on this topic:
- How to write Etsy product descriptions that sell
- Etsy shop sections and listing photos: a practical guide
Frequently asked questions
How many characters can an Etsy title have?
Up to 140 characters. Because titles are often cut short in search results and on mobile, put the most important description of the item first.
How many tags can I use on Etsy?
Up to 13 tags per listing, each with a maximum of 20 characters. Phrases with several words count as one tag.
Should my tags repeat the words in my title?
Some overlap is normal and fine. Your title and tags work together, but using tags for different, accurate phrases helps your listing match more searches.
Does this tool store my titles or tags?
No. Everything runs in your browser and nothing you type is sent to our server.
Can I use this for other marketplaces?
Yes, as a general character counter and duplicate checker. Each marketplace has its own limits, though, so check its current listing rules.