Truncate Text
Shorten text to a specific character or word limit with customizable endings. Free and easy to use.
Input Text
Truncated Output
Why use our Truncate Text Tool?
Multiple Truncate Modes
Cut by characters, words, word boundaries, or per-line — with a custom ending like ...
Custom Ending String
Append ellipsis, em dashes, or any suffix when text exceeds your length limit.
Private & Instant
Truncate excerpts locally in your browser — ideal for meta descriptions and previews.
What is a Text Truncator?
A text truncator shortens strings that exceed a maximum length, often adding an ending marker like an ellipsis to signal omitted content. Developers use truncators for card previews, table cells, and API responses. Marketers use them to fit meta descriptions, ad copy, and social captions within character limits.
Our free online truncate text tool supports four modes: truncate by character count, by word count, at the last word boundary before the limit, and per-line truncation for multi-line blocks. Set your max length and custom ending, then copy or download the shortened result.
Truncation Options
- By characters:Cut text at an exact character limit and append your ending string.
- By words:Keep the first N words and add the ending — ignores partial words.
- Word boundary:Truncate at the last complete word before the character limit.
- Per line:Apply character truncation independently to each line in a block.
- Custom ending:Set ... or any suffix — the ending counts toward the max length.
- Live stats:Compare character and word counts before and after truncation.
Common Use Cases
Meta Descriptions
Trim page summaries to ~155 characters for search snippet previews.
Card & List Previews
Shorten article excerpts for dashboard cards, RSS feeds, and email digests.
Social Media Captions
Fit long posts into platform character limits with a clean ellipsis ending.
Table & UI Mockups
Generate sample truncated cell content for wireframes and prototypes.
Product Descriptions
Create short blurbs from full descriptions for category listing pages.
Log & Error Summaries
Cut verbose log lines to a readable length for dashboards and alerts.
How to Truncate Text
Paste Your Text
Enter the full text you want to shorten into the input area.
Set Max Length & Ending
Choose the character or word limit and type your ending string (default: ...).
Pick a Truncate Mode
Select by characters, words, word boundary, or per-line truncation.
Copy or Download
Copy the shortened text or download it as a plain text file.
Benefits of Text Truncation
Clean Excerpts
Word-boundary mode avoids cutting mid-word for professional-looking previews.
Flexible Limits
Truncate by characters or words depending on your platform's rules.
Per-Line Support
Process multi-line blocks without merging lines into one excerpt.
Custom Endings
Use ellipsis, brackets, or read more links as your truncation suffix.
Private Processing
Draft copy and client content never leave your browser.
Completely Free
Truncate unlimited text with no signup or usage restrictions.
Text Truncation Tips
- •Ending counts toward limit: The max length includes your ending string — account for ... when setting limits.
- •Word boundary for readability: Use word boundary mode when excerpts appear in user-facing UI.
- •Per-line for lists: Truncate each line separately when processing bullet points or log entries.
- •Short input passes through: Text already under the limit is returned unchanged with no ending added.
- •Meta description targets: Aim for 150–160 characters including the ellipsis for Google snippet previews.
- •Pair with meta checker: After truncating, verify pixel width with a dedicated meta length checker.
Truncate Text Now
Whether you are writing meta descriptions, building card previews, or trimming social captions, our free truncate text tool shortens your content to exact limits with a custom ending — entirely in your browser.
Scroll up, paste your text, set the limit and mode, and copy the result. No registration required, completely free, and your content stays 100% private on Quick Note.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How does text truncation work?
You set a maximum length and optional ending string. The tool cuts text that exceeds the limit and appends your ending (like ...) to indicate omitted content.
What is the difference between character and word truncation?
Character truncation cuts at an exact character count. Word truncation keeps the first N complete words regardless of how many characters they contain.
What is word boundary truncation?
Word boundary mode truncates at the last complete word before the character limit, avoiding mid-word cuts for cleaner excerpts.
Does the ending count toward the max length?
Yes. The ending string (such as ...) is included in the maximum length, so the visible text plus ending fits within your limit.
What happens if my text is already shorter than the limit?
Text that is already within the limit is returned unchanged with no ending appended.
Can I truncate each line separately?
Yes. Use the per-line mode to apply character truncation independently to every line in a multi-line block.
Is my text uploaded to a server?
No. All truncation happens entirely in your browser. Your text is never sent to any server.
Is the truncate text tool free?
Yes. It is completely free to use with no registration, downloads, or hidden fees.