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Google Ads Preview

Fill in headlines, descriptions and extensions and see the ad as it appears on Google's results page, in desktop and mobile versions.

Preview

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Ad copy

The domain shown in the ad comes from here.
Optional: they only change the URL line, not where the click goes.
Extensions
Sitelinks and callouts make the ad bigger, like in top positions.
Comma-separated. Each callout takes 25 characters.
Only shows in the mock search bar.

How to use the preview tool

  1. Enter the final URL and, if you want, the two display paths. They only appear in the ad's URL line and don't change where the click goes.
  2. Write your headlines and descriptions watching the counters: anything past the limit gets trimmed in the preview, just as it would on Google.
  3. Add sitelinks and callouts to see how the ad looks in top positions, when Google shows your extensions.
  4. Switch between desktop and mobile and polish the copy until your core message fits whole in both formats.

Check the ad before you publish

In the Google Ads editor you write into form boxes and only find out what the ad really looks like once it's in the auction. A realistic preview flips that order: you show the finished ad to your client or your team, compare variations and sign off on the copy before spending the first dollar.

Space is the currency of a search ad. Headlines get cut around 30 characters, descriptions disappear after two lines on desktop, and whatever comes first carries the most weight: headline 1 makes the promise, description 1 backs it up, and extensions add size and extra reasons to click. Watching the cut happen in the preview saves you from publishing a sentence chopped in half.

Google Ads character limits

The tool's counters follow the official limits for search ads:

  • Headline: 30 characters
    Each headline takes up to 30 characters, spaces included; Google shows two or three at a time, separated by vertical bars.
  • Description: 90 characters
    Each description takes up to 90 characters and may get truncated on display, so lead with the decisive information.
  • Display path: 15 characters
    Two optional 15-character fields that extend the visible URL: they add context and don't change the landing page.
  • Sitelink: 25 characters
    Each sitelink's text takes up to 25 characters; callouts share the same limit and appear alongside the description.

Frequently asked questions

Is the preview identical to what shows on Google?

It's a close approximation of the current search ad format. In practice, Google constantly tests layout variations and decides, search by search, which assets to combine and show, so your live ad may vary around what you see here.

Why only three headlines when Google Ads takes fifteen?

A responsive search ad accepts up to 15 headlines, but Google shows at most two or three at a time. The preview simulates that display: use the three fields for your pinned headlines or the most likely combination.

Do the counters count spaces?

Yes. Spaces and punctuation count as characters, exactly as they do inside Google Ads.

Does it work for formats other than search?

No. The preview reproduces the text ad on the search network. Display, Shopping and Performance Max assemble their creatives differently, with formats of their own.

Need help with your search campaigns?

Marktech is a Google and Meta partner and handles campaign copy, targeting and optimization for companies, chains and franchises.

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