Responsive search ads (RSAs) let you write many headlines and descriptions, and Google mixes them into combinations for each search. That flexibility comes with strict limits and an editorial review. The checker above counts characters as you type, flags text likely to trigger editorial problems, and shows a live preview built from your assets.
Free tool · Google Ads
Google Ads Copy Checker
Draft responsive search ads with live character counts, catch editorial issues before Google does, and preview how your ad could look.
- 100% free
- No sign-up
- Runs in your browser
Headlines (3/15)
0/30
0/30
0/30
Descriptions (2/4)
0/90
0/90
URL and keyword
0/15
0/15
Search ad preview
Sponsored
E
example.com
example.com
Your headline 1 | Headline 2 | Headline 3
Your description text appears here. Add up to four descriptions; Google shows up to two at a time.
Google mixes your assets automatically; shuffle to see other combinations. Actual layout varies by device.
Summary
Start typing headlines and descriptions to check them.
How do I check my Google Ads headlines and descriptions before publishing?
When to use the ad copy checker
Best for
- Writing new responsive search ads
- Fixing ads disapproved for editorial issues
- Checking how headlines read together before launch
Not the right pick for
- Knowing exactly which combination Google will show
- Measuring ad performance — judge ads on conversions in Google Ads
How it works
- 1
Write your headlines
Aim for all 15 and keep each under 30 characters.
- 2
Write your descriptions
Use all 4, each close to 90 characters.
- 3
Add display paths
Use a category and a product type, up to 15 characters each.
- 4
Review warnings and preview
Fix flagged lines and check how the ad reads together.
Responsive search ad limits
These limits come from Google Ads Help:
| Asset | Character limit | How many |
|---|---|---|
| Headline | 30 characters | At least 3, up to 15 |
| Description | 90 characters | At least 2, up to 4 |
| Display path | 15 characters each | 2 path fields |
Double-width characters, such as Chinese, Japanese and Korean, count as two characters each. Display paths are added after your domain in the visible URL; they do not need to be real pages.
How to use the checker
- Write your headlines. Aim for the full 15 so Google has room to test. The counter turns to a warning as you approach 30.
- Write your descriptions. Use all 4, each close to 90 characters.
- Add display paths, for example a category and a product type.
- Review warnings next to each line and adjust.
- Check the preview to see how headlines and descriptions read together.
Editorial warnings explained
Google's editorial policy requires ad text to use capitalization, punctuation, spacing and symbols for their intended purpose. The checker flags the patterns that most often cause disapprovals:
- Excessive capitals. Words like FREE or SALE in all caps are not allowed when used for emphasis. Standard abbreviations such as USA or LED are fine.
- Repeated punctuation. Google's policy specifically disallows consecutive repeated punctuation or symbols, such as "!!" or "??".
- Exclamation marks in headlines. The checker flags any exclamation point in a headline. Exclamation marks are a frequent cause of editorial issues, so keep them out of headlines and use at most one in a description.
- Gimmicky spacing and symbols, such as extra spaces or letters separated by periods.
Other editorial rules to keep in mind: phone numbers are not allowed in ad text (use a call asset), and unnecessary repetition of words or names can be disapproved.
Writing RSAs that perform
Make every headline work on its own
Google can show any headline in any position, so each one must make sense alone and next to any other. Avoid headlines that only work as a pair.
Cover different angles
Mix headline types instead of rewording the same idea:
- The product or category, ideally matching your main keywords
- Your strongest benefit
- A price, offer or shipping promise you can support on the landing page
- Trust signals such as reviews, warranty or years in business
- A clear call to action
Use pinning sparingly
Google notes that pinning reduces the number of combinations that can match a search, so it is not recommended for most advertisers. If you must pin, for example for a required disclaimer, pin two or three alternatives to that position rather than one.
Keep keywords that do not fit in headlines
If a keyword is longer than 30 characters, use it in a description instead.
Common mistakes
- Writing 15 headlines that say nearly the same thing, which limits testing.
- Promising offers or prices that are not on the landing page.
- Leaving descriptions short and wasting space you are allowed to use.
- Forgetting to tag landing pages for tracking. Build your URLs with the UTM builder.
Tips
- Pair strong copy with clean search terms. Ads perform better when irrelevant searches are filtered out with the negative keyword generator.
- Judge ads on conversions, not just clicks. If tracking is not in place, read our guide to Google Ads conversion tracking for e-commerce.
- If ads are disapproved and you cannot see why, our Google Ads fix service can review the account.
Free tool vs having us run your Google Ads
| Free tool (do it yourself) | Mercantads does it for you | |
|---|---|---|
| Know your numbers | Calculate them here | Targets set from your real margins and data |
| Campaigns | Learn and build them yourself | Shopping, Performance Max and Search built for you |
| Optimization | Whenever you find time | Weekly search terms, bids, budgets and feed updates |
| Results | Depends on your time and experience | A Google Partner team focused on your profit |
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Each responsive search ad headline can be up to 30 characters. You can add up to 15 headlines per ad.
Up to 90 characters each, with a minimum of 2 and a maximum of 4 descriptions per ad.
Yes. Spaces and punctuation count as characters, and double-width characters count as two.
No. Google chooses which headlines and descriptions to show for each search, and layouts vary by device. The preview shows one plausible combination so you can check that your assets read well together.
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Google Ads Copy Checker
Draft responsive search ads with live character counts, catch editorial issues before Google does, and preview how your ad could look.