Published: April 2026 | Last Updated: April 2026

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Quick Answer

The ideal email subject line is 41–50 characters. Desktop email clients display ~60–70 characters; mobile clients show only ~30–40 characters before truncation.

Email Subject Line Limits by Client

Email Client / ContextDisplay LimitNotes
Gmail (Desktop)~70 charactersVaries by browser window width
Gmail (Mobile)~40 charactersSignificantly shorter on phones
Outlook (Desktop)~60 charactersDepends on preview pane width
Outlook (Mobile)~35 charactersEven tighter on mobile
Apple Mail (Desktop)~65 charactersVaries with column width
Apple Mail (Mobile)~35 charactersiPhone shows ~35 characters
Technical Maximum (RFC 2822)998 charactersHard technical limit per email standard
Recommended Length41–50 charactersBalances desktop and mobile visibility

Tips for Email Subject Lines

Check Your Subject Line Length

Paste your email subject line into our free word counter tool to see the exact character count. Make sure it displays fully on both desktop and mobile.

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Paste your text into our free word counter tool to instantly count words, characters, sentences, paragraphs and pages.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the ideal email subject line length?

The ideal email subject line is 41–50 characters. This length displays fully on most desktop clients and shows enough on mobile to convey your message.

How many characters show on mobile email?

Most mobile email clients display approximately 30–40 characters of the subject line before truncating. iPhone Mail shows roughly 35 characters.

Is there a maximum email subject line length?

The technical maximum per RFC 2822 is 998 characters. However, any subject line over 60–70 characters will be truncated on most email clients.

Do emojis work in email subject lines?

Yes, most modern email clients support emojis in subject lines. Used sparingly, they can increase open rates. However, some clients may not render them, and overuse can trigger spam filters.

What is email preview text?

Preview text (preheader) is the snippet of text that appears after the subject line in the inbox view. It's typically 40–130 characters and should complement your subject line.

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